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
