October 4, 2005

 

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation…

                                                --Matthew 26:41

 

When you read the Bible, it is apparent that temptation is a part of life from the beginning to end. In the beginning when man was created, Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan in the Garden of Eden. And throughout the pages of Scripture, other men and women struggled with temptation in their lives.

 

Even the Lord Jesus, at the very outset of His ministry, was driven by the Spirit of God into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. Thank God that Jesus did not give in to the temptation Satan offered. He was tempted in every area that we are often tempted in, yet He was without sin and never yielded to the devil.

 

However, you and I must understand that it is not a sin to be tempted. It becomes sin when we say “yes” to the temptation. No doubt, temptations are powerful—sometimes seemingly overwhelming. But we must always recognize the influence of evil upon our lives as believers in Christ.

 

Don’t ever think you’re not vulnerable to temptation. The moment you think you’re riding high is when pride sets in and according to Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Even the Apostle Paul said we are vulnerable to falling in 1 Corinthians 10:12: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

 

Our attitude toward temptation and sin is to be one of constant watchfulness and careful dependence. In the model prayer, Jesus taught us to pray against temptation (see Matthew 6:13). Each day, we need to realize our own weaknesses, rely upon the strength of the Lord, and pray daily that He would empower us to resist and ultimately escape temptation.

 

WHEN TEMPTATION SNEAKS UP ON YOU, FIGHT BACK IN PRAYER AND THROUGH THE STUDY OF GOD’S WORD.