Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.
Luke 4: 1-2a
Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that once we are saved, we are beyond the devil’s grasp. Truth is, the closer you are to God, the greater the temptation will be. Temptation takes many shapes and forms and the devil knows exactly which one of your buttons to push. Jesus was the Son of God, and he too was tempted but sinned not. Others weren’t so fortunate:
When Eve was tempted, she succumbed to Satan’s lure and ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:1) dragging her husband down with her. When Cain was tempted, he murdered is brother Abel (Genesis 4:8). When David was tempted, he committed adultery with Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife (2 Samuel 11:4) and when Peter was tempted, he denied Jesus three times (Mark 14: 68-71). There were others besides these. Temptation comes to all, and we are all susceptible to temptation.
But why temptation? Why can’t God take it away? Temptation allows the believer’s spiritual roots to grow deeper and stronger. In one of Aesop’s Fables, entitled, “The Oak and the Reed,” the author shares a parable that contrasts pride and humility. The oak trusts in its strength to withstand the storm and is blown over, and the reed, weak and fragile often bends with the wind and so survives. When temptation comes, admitting that we are weak, allows us to tap into God’s supernatural strength in order to withstand its onslaught.
When Paul was tempted, he said, “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing (Romans 7:19).” Paul’s admission of his own weakness allowed him to tap into God’s power so he could be the leader God needed him to be. Mrs. L.B. Cowman, a missionary to Japan and China, once wrote: “You will never fully realize the level of strength of your grasp on Christ, or His grasp on you, until the Devil uses all his force to attract you to himself. It is then you will feel the tug of Christ’s right hand.
Are you experiencing temptation? Flee from it, turn to Him through his Holy word, and let Him nourish and strengthen your spirit. Then take authority in Jesus name, and speak to your situation, until it is under the submission of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior (Matthew 4:1-11).
Heavenly Father, I surrender this situation (name it) to you. I cannot withstand it on my own, but Lord, I am asking for your strength, that I might not sin against you. I am standing upon your promise, that you will not let me be tempted beyond what I am able to bear. You are my escape dear Jesus, show me the way out. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.