Prayer – Lord, I know that You hear our prayers…just as
You taught us to pray. You provide a way for us to escape temptation.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us
from the evil one. Matthew 6:13a NKJV
Meditate. Consider temptation.
Where does temptation come from? What are the temptations
that plague you?
 |
| The Judean desert where Jesus was tempted. 40 days without food or water. |
Now when the devil
had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. Luke
4:13 NKJV
It is the devil…Satan…who tempts people and as James tells
us, temptation comes from our own desires. All those selfish, self-centered
wishes and yearnings are the root of evil in our lives.
God blesses those
who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the
crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when
you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never
tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our
own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to
sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. James
1:12-15 NLT
That is reassuring: God never tempts anyone! I praise God
for that—He is on our side. Life is tough enough without thinking that God
gives us temptations. But what about Job? He allowed Satan to bring trials and
hardships on Job, who lost his precious family, cattle, sheep, servants,
buildings and even his health, but he did not curse God.
So Satan answered
the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing "Have You not made
a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every
side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have
increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he
has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" And the LORD said to
Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand
on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. ... In
all this (the trials) Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. Job
1:9-12, 22 NKJV
Do we get trials and tests like Job? Jesus taught His
disciples, and us, to pray that we would not be led into temptation, but that
we wouldn’t be attacked by Satan…and the evil that he purposes…casts on all
individual. God hasn’t forgotten us—His creation and this translation below
encourages us that God is compassionate. We need that…compassion and love.
No temptation
[regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to
human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance];
but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He
will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the
temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way
out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will
overcome temptation with joy]. 1 Corinthians 10:13 AMP
Don’t be led into temptation. Open your eyes and look for
the way out that God has provided.
Verse of Salvation ~ So prepare your minds for action,
be completely sober [in spirit—steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and
morally alert], fix your hope completely on the grace [of God] that is coming
to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. [Live] as obedient children [of God]; do
not be conformed to the evil desires which governed you in your ignorance
[before you knew the requirements and transforming power of the good news
regarding salvation]. 1 Peter 1:13-14 AMP
What are your thoughts on Temptation? Share them in the comment section below. 🖉
© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless
otherwise noted.
New King James Version, ©
1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Harper
Collins Publisher. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scripture
quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP),
Copyright ©2015 by
The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. lockman.org
New
Living Translation (NLT) copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House
Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
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