Temptation.
In his letter to the Corinthians Paul said all people encounter temptation, even the Lord Jesus was tempted. He was tempted in every conceivable way, by the world, by the flesh and by the devil, but did not sin. How is that even possible? Simply, every time he was tempted, Jesus took the escape route provided by God. And, when temptation closes in around us, God faithfully provides a way out so that we can endure temptation, too (1 Corinthians 10:13). Although I know this truth, I’ve seen those gracious detours many times in my life, I still struggle when temptation comes knocking.
Today, my struggle is not so much with knowing about or recognizing God’s gracious escape plan, as it is with my stubborn flesh. I know his grace is sufficient in every situation. It’s not my plan to crumble under temptation’s weight. I want to walk in the Spirit and the good things he desires for me. Deep inside I want to follow him, to bear his fruit and experience his life and peace, but I have this gnawing habit, as they say, of getting in my own way. My thoughts get turned upside down. My emotions get turned inside out. My flesh bows up with relentless disregard, and then the things I want to do, I don’t do; and the things I don’t want to do, I do. Now, to use popular vernacular, that’s just messed up!
Added to the dilemma of my flesh is the fact that I live in a very enticing world full of alluring options, conveniences and evils. Everywhere I go I am bombarded by all sorts of provocative sights and sounds driving me to take care of number one, whatever it costs. As one of my AA friends frequently told me, “The world is selling Bologna Sandwiches and my mind and heart are buying them.” Again, Jesus understood the world’s pull. And so he tells us not to lose heart, not to give up when the world foists temptations on us because he overcame them and it.
Then, if my flesh and the world aren’t challenging enough, there are those times when the devil makes a fast break for me. I don’t know if it’s because he’s enamored with the sound of his own roar, or if he’s really on the prowl, scanning for some chink into my life, probably both. What I do know is that he targets all people. He targeted Adam and Eve and Job and Jesus. He’s targeted people in every century of human history; and, he targets us. Although we might walk around with a bright bullseye painted on our backs, we are covered in God’s grace. And this grace, working in and through us, makes it possible to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil.
If you are going through one of “those” times, or know someone going through one of “those” times, may I remind you that God’s grace is sufficient in every situation (2 Corinthians 12:9); his Word overcomes every temptation (Matthew 4:1–11); and his armor is effective against every scheme the world, the flesh and the devil throw at us (Ephesians 6:10–18).
So to circle back to Paul’s message to the Corinthians: “No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it” (The Message).
Be encouraged!
