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.
INTRODUCTION
In a biblical context, temptation refers to the act of being enticed or lured toward sin or disobedience to God’s commands.The concept of temptation is found throughout the Bible and is often associated with the presence of evil and the fallen nature of humanity.
I found this on the net and thought it very relevant for our time. Please enjoy it and share with others!
- It is not a sin to be tempted.
Temptation comes our way in all sorts of forms and sizes. Our minds are like a hotel. The manager cannot keep someone from entering the lobby. However, he can certainly keep that person from getting a room. Likewise, it is not a sin when a temptation passes through our mind. The sin comes when we give that thought a room in our mind and let it dwell there.
We should not confuse temptations with trials that come our way. Most often, trials are allowed, or even sent, by God to cause the Christian to stand. Temptations are however sent from the devil to cause the Christian to stumble.
B.The devil never made us do anything. He simply dangles the bait in front of us.
Then we are tempted; we are “drawn away by our own desires and enticed- James 1:13-14”; by that which is outside the boundaries laid out for us in God’s Word.
Make no mistake about it: we will be tempted. As long as we are encased in human flesh, it desires to rebel against what is good and godly. We never have to teach our children to disobey.
They pick right up on it. We have to teach them to obey. So it is with us and the issue of temptation. It is a reality that is not going to go away. Consequently, it behooves us to know how to deal with temptation when it comes.
- Most of the great heroes of the Bible faced their greatest temptations near the end of their pilgrimage rather than in the beginning.
This was certainly true of Moses, Elijah, and David.
There is a word of assurance here for those who may feel a sort of pseudo guilt over being tempted: it is a reality. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man” – 1 Corinthians 10:13. It is inevitable. Temptation is “common to man.”
- Life may have its shadows, but one thing is certain: they are never caused by God’s turning or by His changing. He is faithful.
James reminded us that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” – James 1:17.
Difficulties in life are never caused by God’s turning or changing. We can rest in the reality that even though we may be tempted, we have a Lord who is faithful.
- God provides a way of escape for us.
The word picture here is of a mountain pass. The idea is of an army that is apparently surrounded, and then suddenly they see an escape route to safety through a mountain pass.
None of us needs to succumb to the temptations that come our way. Jesus will make a way of escape. Many of us who have fallen into sin did so willfully because we refused to take the path of escape that the Lord put before us.
You say, “I am tempted.” The Lord says, “What else is new? I, too, was tempted in all points as you, yet I was without sin” – Hebrews 4:15.
Jesus taught us how to overcome our temptation. For forty days He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness of Judea. On each occurrence, Jesus overcame by quoting Scripture. – Luke 4.
The Word, hidden in our hearts (Psalm 119:11), will also keep us from sin when applied by faith to our lives.
We should not be surprised when temptation comes our way. It is, after all, “common to man.” But Christ Himself is our way of escape. And one thing can certainly be said of Him — “He is faithful.”
Meditate on the words of James 1:12:Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Conclusion
As humans, we have a propensity to be drawn toward sinful desires and actions. However, with God’s help, we can resist temptation and make choices that align with God’s commands and principles.
The apostle Paul writes about the experience of temptation in his letters, emphasizing the need for believers to rely on the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance to overcome temptations and live a righteous life (1 Corinthians 10:13, Galatians 5:16-17).
- Temptations happen to everyone, so we should not feel singled out.
- Others have resisted temptation, and so can we.
- Any temptation can be resisted because God will show us a way out.
God will aid us in resisting temptation by helping us:
- Recognize those people and situations that give us trouble.
- Run from anything we know is wrong.
- Choose to do only what is right.
- Pray for God’s help.
- Seek friends who love God and offer help when we are tempted.
Running from a temptation situation is the first step on the way to victory.
Remain Blessed!
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