By Reverend J. Loren Russell
1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
Temptation is germane to the human experience. Not even Jesus was exempt from it. The question that we must wrestle with is not whether or not we are tempted, but how we respond when we are tempted.
The scripture from Paul to the church in Corinth makes it clear that whatever temptation a person faces will never overtake him/her if they remain faithful to God.
A great example of enduring temptation is found in the fourth chapter of Matthew (4:1-11) where Jesus is tempted by Satan. After Jesus had fasted for 40 days, He was no doubt hungry. The first temptation was for Him to turn a stone into bread. The second was a temptation to prove Himself to be divine by throwing Himself off the mountain so that the angels would catch Him. The third temptation was Satan promising Him rulership of the world if He changed His loyalty from God the Father to Satan.
The way of escape that Jesus exemplified was, and is, found in the logos, the written word of God, which we call The Holy Bible. Jesus responded to each temptation with a direct Biblical quote:
• “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
• “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’
Temptation is hard to resist. When Satan took Jesus on the pinnacle and showed Him the kingdoms of the world, he thought the temptation of power and influence would be an offer He could not refuse. All Jesus had to do to get it was bow down and worship him. Satan didn’t know who he was talking to. He thought he did, but he had no idea that Jesus truly was, and is, God in the flesh! Jesus’ response to Satan was declarative, “For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’
Jesus is the Word of God in the flesh! Temptation could not overcome Him because He personified the promises of the Father, “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able.” Jesus set the standard for all believers and gave us a method against being swallowed up in the tempter’s snare. While being tempted in the wilderness, Jesus showed us the way of escape, which is the Word of God!
Be Blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell is an associate minister at Goodwill Baptist Church and is the spiritual leader of the Evangelical Church of God, both in the Bronx, President/CEO of The JLR Company/J Loren R Consulting, LLC for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting (718-328-8096) and is the producer and host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Monday nights from 8:00 – 10:00 PM on Facebook Live. Be sure to ‘Friend’ the Matters of Faith YouTube Channel. Email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. Order your copy of Matters of Faith: The eBook at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177.
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