Temptation

 

Response to temptation

After forty days of fasting, the Lord Jesus was tempted. His answers to the tempter are most enlightening . Let me quote them.

1    "people need more than bread for life " Luke 4 NLT

We are more than physical. We are spirit, soul and body in that order. The passions and needs of the body are very real, but the spirit is most important . The body connects us with earth. The spirit connects us with heaven.

 

2    "You must worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve"

The distractions of this world are very real. They become demanding, entwining and ultimately idolatrous. Be it religious, political, wealth, education, social status or self interest,,  anything that displaces God the  Almighty, God as priority, God as provident – such robs God of His rightful glory and is sin. 

 

3   " Do not test the Lord your God"

Trusting God's applicable promises is not sin. Seeking a sign is not sin. But doing or saying something that presumes upon the miraculous is tempting God. To pray 'Lord keep me' , then to drive dangerously is tempting God. If I pray 'deliver us from temptation', then choose to read the wrong, or watch the wrong things is testing God.

The Lord Jesus did not fall for the temptation. Let us watch and pray.

Lord keep my heart,.............

I need Thee every hour

Most gracious Lord

No tender voice like Thine

Can peace afford.

I need Thee every hour

Stay Thou nearby

Temptations lose their power

When Thou art nigh