Is There Good in Temptation?

September 17th, 2012 by JDVaughn Leave a reply »

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man . . . —1 Corinthians 10:13

 

The word temptation has come to mean something bad to us today, but we tend to use the word in the wrong way. Temptation itself is not sin; it is something we are bound to face simply by virtue of being human. Not to be tempted would mean that we were already so shameful that we would be beneath contempt. Yet many of us suffer from temptations we should never have to suffer, simply because we have refused to allow God to lift us to a higher level where we would face temptations of another kind.

A person’s inner nature, what he possesses in the inner, spiritual part of his being, determines what he is tempted by on the outside. The temptation fits the true nature of the person being tempted and reveals the possibilities of his nature. Every person actually determines or sets the level of his own temptation, because temptation will come to him in accordance with the level of his controlling, inner nature.

Temptation comes to me, suggesting a possible shortcut to the realization of my highest goal— it does not direct me toward what I understand to be evil, but toward what I understand to be good. Temptation is something that confuses me for a while, and I don’t know whether something is right or wrong. When I yield to it, I have made lust a god, and the temptation itself becomes the proof that it was only my own fear that prevented me from falling into the sin earlier.

Temptation is not something we can escape; in fact, it is essential to the well-rounded life of a person. Beware of thinking that you are tempted as no one else–what you go through is the common inheritance of the human race, not something that no one has ever before endured. God does not save us from temptations–He sustains us in the midst of them (see Hebrews 2:18 and Hebrews 4:15-16).

_______________________________________________________

September 17, 2012

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, this seems to be one more lesson in the ongoing series of lessons about being connected to Jesus. Inside of temptation, or peril and difficulties of any kind, You are teaching me to simply stay connected and You will work out the ending to your honor and glory and for my ultimate good.

And God says…”All things work for the good of those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart, seek first the Kingdome of God, which is Jesus, and everything you need will be provided. Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways and He will make your paths straight. When you are connected and truly living in trust and faith, the kind that I provide you, there are no temptations or difficulties…only opportunities for Me to demonstrate my love and grace to and for you.”

 

Posted in Uncategorized

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 Feed. You can leave a response , or trackback from your own site.

Advertisement

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.