“We will receive His mercy and find grace to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 NLT
“Temptation does not happen all of a sudden; it’s progressive, often incremental.”
My thoughts today are about “temptation.”
All of us are not necessarily tempted by the same things, but we are each tempted by something. See 1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV. Temptation does not happen all of a sudden; it’s progressive, often incremental. Temptation begins harmlessly enough as a mere thought of a possibility, soon becoming an impetuous or reasoned consideration of whether you could or should, to an evaluation of potential consequences or measures of enjoyment, and finally, to your choice to resist or yield to the temptation. It would seem to me that the very fact of temptation indicates that you realize what you are considering is less than the right thing to do. Temptation comes in many forms, sometimes masquerading as expediency, doing what you have to do. On another occasion, you may be tempted to give less than your best, or justify compromising your word. Temptation is not always recognized as such at first.
First, in any discussion about temptation you should know this: God offers blessing for the person that overcomes evil enticement. “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted with evil, nor does He tempt anyone.” James 1:12-13 NIV. Also, be assured that God is not the origin of temptations big or small. A person has no one to blame but themselves when tempted. Yielding to temptation is usually the result of one’s presumption that the possible consequences are not probable or on the assumption you will be an exception and somehow avoid the usual consequences.
Others’ invitations to wrong are powerless if they do not resonate with your own temptation. Temptation’s origin is found in your own wrong desires and the sinful, fallen culture that invites and entices you. The Bible is clear about the progression of temptation, “Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived.” James 1:14-16 NIV. There is no good ending when temptation has been allowed to work its worst.
Recognize temptation for what it is; temptation is disloyalty to God and disregard of His will and Word for personal pleasure or profit. Joseph understood this. His response to the insistence and seduction of his master’s wife was, “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” Genesis 39:7-10 NKJV. You fail yourself and others when you yield to temptation, but most of all you fail the grace of God. Read Galatians 5:17-25 NLT.
Jesus understands your temptation; He empathizes and rushes to your aid. See Matthew 4:1-11 NKJV. “Because Jesus Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted . . let us cling to him and never stop trusting Him. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same temptations we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 2:18 NKJV/4:14-16 NLT. Need mercy? You find grace when you come to Jesus.
My prayer for you today is that you will find the help you need when you need it most.