“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out.”
1 Corinthians 10:13
God doesn’t tempt anyone. But He does allow us to endure temptation as a means of testing our faith (James 1:2-4, 13). What’s the difference? Temptation is an invitation to sin, and that’s something God would never do. But God may allow us to wrestle with temptation for various reasons. The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness (Matthew 4) so that He would endure tremendous temptation.
There are many reasons God may allow this in our lives, but perhaps one is so that we may understand our own powerlessness to defeat sin. Even when the spirit is entirely willing, the flesh is thoroughly weak (Matthew 26:41). We need God’s help to fight not only sin, but also the temptation to sin. In our weakness, Christ is strong.
Jesus is teaching us in the Lord’s Prayer, “Ask God to keep you as far away from sin as possible.” You may feel like God is allowing you to endure too much temptation. But even within the penitentiary system, you can choose to stay closer to, or further away from, the dangerous temptation to sin.
There are many reasons God may allow this in our lives, but perhaps one is so that we may understand our own powerlessness to defeat sin. Even when the spirit is entirely willing, the flesh is thoroughly weak (Matthew 26:41). We need God’s help to fight not only sin, but also the temptation to sin. In our weakness, Christ is strong.
Jesus is teaching us in the Lord’s Prayer, “Ask God to keep you as far away from sin as possible.” You may feel like God is allowing you to endure too much temptation. But even within the penitentiary system, you can choose to stay closer to, or further away from, the dangerous temptation to sin.
Scripture Focus
Matthew 6:9-13
Insight
When you pray “lead us not into temptation,” trust in His strength, not your own.
Bible In A Year
- Leviticus 21-22
- Psalm 57
- Luke 21
