TEMPTATION
TEMPTATION
READ: LUKE 4:1-13 – NIV84
Maybe you've heard this prayer:
Dear Lord, I'm having a good day so far. I haven't lied, cheated, cursed, or lost my temper. But I'm about to get out of bed, and then I'm really going to need your help!
We chuckle, at least in part, because we see ourselves in these words. As soon as we open our eyelids on most mornings, Satan's temptations bombard us with machine-gun rapidity.
Show them hate! Get irate! Desecrate! Yes, berate! Yell at mate! Stay too late! Don't create! Make 'em wait! Incriminate!
Can you relate? Knowing where we're most vulnerable, Satan attacks those areas of our lives and faith intensely. He sets traps – some obvious, but some very well hidden.
In Psalm 31:1-5, David gives us some wonderfully appropriate words to pray when we are tempted:
In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me . . . For the sake of your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.
David trusted the Lord to surround and protect him when he was tempted. He trusted God could keep him from the shame of his own weakness. He asked that God would be his lifeline, the fortress that would keep him safe.
We ask the same things as we pray in the Lord's Prayer, "Deliver us from evil." We can't defeat temptation on our own, so we ask Jesus to deliver us from the traps set for us by Satan, society, and our own sinful selves. Our Savior leads us, As David prays, safely around them. Sometime, though we forget our weakness, ignore God's promised help, or deliberately walk into sin. Even then, our Lord comes after us. He gives us his gifts of repentance and faith. When we fail, he forgives.
PRAYER STARTER: God of truth, my Refuge and Rescuer . . .
CREDITS: Man of God. Soaring to New Heights. Tim Wesemann. ISBN: 978-1-933234-95-3. Week 4. Wednesday Devotion.
All scripture quotations from NIV84 unless otherwise specified.
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