Temptation

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away, away from the purposes of God. Temptation plays on our weaknesses. We all experience temptation. The temptations in my life are not different from yours. And God will not allow either of us to be more tempted than we can stand. He will always show us a way out.

Even Jesus was tempted. Matthew says he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for the purpose of being tempted by the devil. Jesus’ temptations follow three patterns that are common to all men: a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for things we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are the same areas that Eve was tempted with in the garden of Eden. Genesis 3 says the woman saw that the tree was beautiful, its fruit look delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. 

The difference between Jesus and Eve is that Jesus chose the way out. Jesus quoted the Word of God. Now, in Eve’s defense, she too quoted the Word of God when she said, “God said, you must not eat it or even touch it, if you do, you will die.” Where she went wrong was that she continued to engage the enemy in conversation until she fell into deception. Jesus finally told the enemy, “Get out here, Satan.” And the Bible says, “Then the devil went away.”

Many of us understand that the way out of temptation is the Word of God, but when quoting the Word of God doesn’t seem to get the enemy to move, you might just have to tell him it’s time for him to leave.