We are all sinners at heart. There is no doubt. Our holy book speaks of this often. But here is not where I wish to focus today. I wish to remind myself that Jesus was also tempted, but remained untouched by sin. He is a rock, here for us when we suffer; He knows, for He has experienced the same.
Hebrews 2:18
For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
Further, He will never bring a temptation into our lives that we cannot endure. If you look closely at your life experiences, you will see that there has always been also an alternate path to the temptations that have arisen, a way out, an escape from the torment.
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
Humans are quick to experience feelings of guilt and often keep terrible, self-destructive thoughts from view. The consequences of these are dire; they weaken us, make us feel unworthy of His love, strike us down. When we consider from where these thoughts are coming, it may be easier to train ourselves to let them go. They come from our arch enemy, the great deceiver. We are loved. We have accepted Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior. We have confessed our sins. We are filled with the Holy Spirit. He will never leave us alone, all by our lonesome, to deal with the great tempter. Why is His suffering on the cross, His promise to us, sometimes not enough to keep us from right action, from such hideous self-loathing?
Mark has advice for us:
Mark 14:38
Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
It is the nature of our being to err. Yet, we are also able to resist inappropriate urgings. He has. He has suffered the worst of temptation. The big lizard was literally in his face.
Matthew 4:1-11 (The Temptation of Jesus)
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.
3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple,
6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory;
9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”
11 Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. Therein is much help for us who also suffer temptation. Is it a matter of training ourselves, so that one day our automatic response will be to 'worship the Lord our God and serve Him only?'
He has resisted temptation and shown us the way. He would have us follow Him. He would have us in the spirit of joy and mighty appreciation for what He has done for us. He would have us in the spirit of peace, in order that we may honor our creator. It is guilt that keeps us from such bliss when we can't resist the horny beast and his never ending effort to lead us astray.
Temptation. Let It Go. Give it to the Lord. We ask that God keep us from it.
Matthew 6:8-13
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
Amen.
(KJV)
"Come boldly, believer, for despite the whispers of Satan and the doubts of your own heart, you are greatly loved. Meditate on the exceeding greatness and faithfulness of divine love this evening, and then go to your bed in peace."
Alistair Begg
~~~~~~~~
References:
Alistair Begg, Our Identity, October 2nd, 2012.
One Place
Alistair Begg, Come to Your Tempted Savior, October 3rd, 2012.
Truth for Life
Hebrews 2:18
For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
Further, He will never bring a temptation into our lives that we cannot endure. If you look closely at your life experiences, you will see that there has always been also an alternate path to the temptations that have arisen, a way out, an escape from the torment.
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
Humans are quick to experience feelings of guilt and often keep terrible, self-destructive thoughts from view. The consequences of these are dire; they weaken us, make us feel unworthy of His love, strike us down. When we consider from where these thoughts are coming, it may be easier to train ourselves to let them go. They come from our arch enemy, the great deceiver. We are loved. We have accepted Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior. We have confessed our sins. We are filled with the Holy Spirit. He will never leave us alone, all by our lonesome, to deal with the great tempter. Why is His suffering on the cross, His promise to us, sometimes not enough to keep us from right action, from such hideous self-loathing?
Mark has advice for us:
Mark 14:38
Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
It is the nature of our being to err. Yet, we are also able to resist inappropriate urgings. He has. He has suffered the worst of temptation. The big lizard was literally in his face.
Matthew 4:1-11 (The Temptation of Jesus)
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.
3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple,
6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory;
9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”
11 Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. Therein is much help for us who also suffer temptation. Is it a matter of training ourselves, so that one day our automatic response will be to 'worship the Lord our God and serve Him only?'
He has resisted temptation and shown us the way. He would have us follow Him. He would have us in the spirit of joy and mighty appreciation for what He has done for us. He would have us in the spirit of peace, in order that we may honor our creator. It is guilt that keeps us from such bliss when we can't resist the horny beast and his never ending effort to lead us astray.
Temptation. Let It Go. Give it to the Lord. We ask that God keep us from it.
Matthew 6:8-13
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
Amen.
(KJV)
"Come boldly, believer, for despite the whispers of Satan and the doubts of your own heart, you are greatly loved. Meditate on the exceeding greatness and faithfulness of divine love this evening, and then go to your bed in peace."
Alistair Begg
~~~~~~~~
References:
Alistair Begg, Our Identity, October 2nd, 2012.
One Place
Alistair Begg, Come to Your Tempted Savior, October 3rd, 2012.
Truth for Life
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