(1 Cor 10:13) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Temptation. It’s something we all face. We feel the tug to do something we know is not right. Sometimes we can shrug it off. At other times it’s like fighting against a terrorist. Why does it get so hard at times to do the right thing? Our flesh cries out for ease and comfort, but our spirit cries out for God. Will this battle ever end? How do we get victory over temptation?
First of all, we have to keep in mind that there are two natures inside us. There’s the new nature that is after Christ and the old nature that loves to sin (Col 3:9-10). Every day we wake up to this clashing of swords. (Gal 5:17) I guess we should thank God for this tension because it proves we are born again! Also, the devil would leave us alone if we weren’t serving the Lord.
Then, when we are tempted we have to ask if we have been feeding that fleshly nature inside and giving it strength to dominate. Ever heard of the story of the man with the two dogs? A man was describing to his friend how his dogs constantly fight. His friend then asked him which one usually wins. He replied, “Come to think of it . . . the one I feed the most.” Are we feeding the flesh by watching and listening to the worldly things? Or are we feeding our spirit by reading our Bibles, singing to the Lord, and being in fellowship with God’s people? Flesh or spirit . . . which one do you feed the most?
So, when temptation presents itself what do you do? First realize that the temptation never comes from God: (Jms 1:13-14) Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. The devil is the tempter (Mat 4:1). He allures our flesh with a fleshly attraction like shiny bait on a hook to a fish. We might say it’s too much for us and we have to give in, but the Word says we will never be tempted beyond what we can handle. God is faithful and will always make a way of escape if we trust Him.
Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. Satan came to Him three times with three big temptations. Jesus resisted them all using the Word of God as an offensive weapon. It worked every time and then Satan fled (Mat 4:1-11). The Word is the same weapon we must use today against enemy of our soul (Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12; Jms 4:7).
You have a prayer and God has the power! (Mat 6:13) And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Endure and then enjoy. (Jms 1:12) Blessed is the man who endures temptation . . .
Louie
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