Jesus knows all about our struggles – He will guide till the day is done. (No, Not One! | Johnson Oatman, Jr., Public Domain) We all face temptation. It is all part of living on this planet. Born into sin and bound to face the struggle till the day we die. Sounds a bit dismal doesn’t it? But perhaps we should be looking at temptation differently than we do. No one likes to be tempted to sin – it is a struggle of our will or perhaps I should say, our will not. Let’s take a quick look at how Jesus was tempted.
“1. Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
2. Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
3. Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” – Matthew 4:1-10
Each time Jesus was tempted – that is each time His flesh was tempted – because God cannot be tempted (James 1:13). Each time, Jesus responded with Spiritual truth – the Word of God. We are tempted in the same ways. John wrote this –
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” – 1 John 2:15-16
Like Jesus we are tempted to yield to our human nature – old nature – and to reject the Father’s will for our own. Temptation is not sin, yielding to it is. Choosing to embrace whatever it is that is drawing us. Pastor Greg Laurie said that temptation is like a bird flying overhead. We cannot keep it from flying over you but you can keep it from making a nest in your hair.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13
Whether you believe it or not, you don’t have to yield to the temptation. You may be very frustrated because you can’t seem to escape certain sins – the temptation springs on you like a lion laying in waiting for its prey. And once again – you fall victim and are devoured.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8
Just like Jesus, the way that we can resist temptation is by the Word of God. The sword of the Spirit. The Way to escape.
“Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.” – Psalm 119:11
Sound too simple – God’s ways our not our ways. We would have come up with something much more difficult – but then – if it was so easy we would already be doing it wouldn’t we? It is impossible to do in our own strength – but very possible by faith.
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