Temptation

Relevant Bible Verses:-

1) Matt.6:13 And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

2) 1 Cor. 10:13 No temptation has taken you except that which is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow that you be tempted beyond what you are able, but will, with the temptation, also make the way out, that you may be able to endure it.

3) 1 Pet. 5:8 Be sober; watch. Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion , walks about, seeking someone to devour
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I was having a pleasant after dinner evening chat with the husband of a friend whom my family was staying with during our last holiday in Jakarta. He was a young chap who was nice to hold conversation with. One thing led to another, and we were on the subject of cars. A very knowledgeable person in automotive and he knows the technical aspects of cars in details. Without me realizing there was actually a brand new 911 Carrera S Porche parked in his closed up double-garage. He’s just spray-painted the car and has recently fitted it with a complete full body car kit set.

I was hoping that the invitation to test-drive the car to come. True enough the invitation came faster than I expected and it was going to be at midnight the same day where there would be much less traffic in the Jakarta highway. Well, well, well… Who in the right frame of mind who hasn’t driven a Porche before and with 28 years driving experience would reject such an invitation? Invitation accepted!

Temptation is very often difficult to avoid and resist. I am only talking about test driving a Porche. There are of course many other temptations in life, which can be way too powerful for humans to resist, than a mere invitation to test-drive a brand new Porche. Most of these temptations will often lead us into sin.

The first occurrence of temptation in the recorded history of mankind is found in Genesis 3:1-7, where serpent (Satan) successfully tempted Eve and Adam to sin. It may be succinctly said that temptations are a certainty of life that every person will experience it, be they Christian or non-Christian. In Matthew 6:13, the Lord taught us to pray that we would not be brought into temptation. We cannot predict when temptation will come before us. But we can still pray faithfully and consistently that God would not bring us into temptation. This prayer is for our protection.

As Christians we need to also recognize the power of the Scripture in overcoming temptation. "Thy Word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee" (Psalms 119:11). When God's Word becomes an integral part of our lives, it fortifies and protects us against the power of temptation.

How much more do we need Christ and His Word to redeem and protect us from temptations.

In the beginning was the Word…the Word was with God, and the Word was God.