“Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time…” Luke 4:13

Temptation

If you are human, you are tempted. Webster’s definition of the word tempt is to entice to do wrong by promise of pleasure or gain. Temptation is the daily battle, the struggle of flesh and spirit.

Temptation comes in many forms. It may be subtle or blatant and in either case, it is unrelenting. Temptation is multi-faceted. You may struggle with alcohol while I battle unholy thoughts or inappropriate flirtations at the office. The spirit is willing, but indeed, as we all know, the flesh is weak. Many times we lose the battle.

I know that I am probably preaching to the choir and so you know that when we sin, when we deliberately do that which we know is not God’s desire for us, we can turn from that transgression and seek His forgiveness. His goodness leads us to repentance and in repentance grace abounds to us.

And yet at times I feel guilty about the fact that I know that sooner or later I am going to do this thing again. The enemy will come to me again at my weakest point, when I am unaware, when I am wearied and discouraged. He will come at an opportune time. He will ambush me, attacking from the rear. He is out to deceive and destroy. Too many times I have stumbled into his sinister schemes. Once again, I will fail.

God’s grace to me was not cheap and I do not want to presume upon that priceless grace. Like Paul ,I cry out, “Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25).

I find my comfort in how Jesus met temptation in the wilderness as He battled Satan toe-to-toe in spiritual combat. Our Scripture tells us Jesus overcame every temptation. Hebrews 4:15 says that Jesus was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. Every temptation. He was tempted in all points, every last one, as we are. Jesus was there in weakness and hunger and isolation, yet Jesus overcame. He won the victory where I have succumbed in inglorious defeat.

And because of His epic battle in the weary desert, He understands my struggle with temptation and He already knows I’m not always going to prevail. He sympathizes with my weakness. It’s why He came and won this battle over sin and death for me. Already knowing these things about me, He still desires to freely meet me with His grace. We stand in His righteousness alone. I am no longer held captive by guilt and shame. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

And so despite my feelings of unworthiness and even disgust with myself, I will seek Him yet again and for as many times as needed. He died to grant me this grace. I hold it in esteem. I will pursue holiness and righteousness again. I will receive His hard-won grace given to me, and in gratitude strengthen my soul to stand up against the temptations to come.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

“Father, I want to love You better than I do.  I want my flesh to submit unfailingly to Your Spirit. In Your word I read how many times our spiritual fathers failed. Their strength was not in their own perfection, but in trusting You in their deepest failures. Thank You for grace. Thank You that You are still changing us from glory to glory into the image of Your Son. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”