Have You Untried? Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Have You Untried?------------------------- Date: 5/22/2003 Keywords: "difficult" "untried" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Proverbs 17:3* The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. Questions: 1. What does this verse mean?   2. How can we apply it to pornography?   Practical help "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting," wrote British author G.K. Chesterton. "It's been found difficult and left untried." No one turns a phrase like the author of the Father Brown mysteries. Our experience with pornography backs up Chesterton's observation. How many of us can say that we've completely beaten down the temptation? (If you have, eXXit.org wants you to write for us.) Indeed, the more we fight against pornography, the more difficulties it seems to throw in our way. A subsequent string of failures often leads to colorful evasions: "Pornography really isn't important," we tell ourselves. "I can quit looking anytime I want," we proudly intone, ignoring the evidence. Perhaps a little perspective from Proverbs can help us succeed in the difficult. Have you considered that maybe porn is your key life struggle? Maybe an unfaithful spouse, multiple job firings and tearful hospital scenes are not your portion in this life. Instead of these grand struggles, maybe God has appointed you for a smarmy one, the internal fight against porn. If so, count yourself blessed. Then get on with the difficult business of living like Jesus Christ. Your challenges may not play out on a grand stage. But they are the smithy of your life that will bear gold, silver or dross. By God's grace you can meet these challenges — and overcome. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2003 by eXXit *Scriptures are from The Holy Bible: New International Version, © Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved.