“But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed” – James 1:14 (KJV).
No one is exempt from temptation and trials of life. Holiness or spirituality does not exempt a person from temptation. The strength of temptation is the love or desire for the object of temptation. What one loves is likely to be what the devil will use to tempt one since that could be an area of least resistance. One’s area of weakness is a target for temptation. Temptation is a bet or a snare the devil set to pull one down. The target of temptation is to make one to sin or miss the mark.
Christians as well as Non-Christians face temptations. While the goal of life’s trial is to purify and test ones motive and faith in God for spiritual promotion, temptation is devil’s tool to pull one down.
That every man is tempted, is a universal issue. Even Jesus as spiritual as he was, he was tempted by the devil to resort to carnal means of meeting his needs and to crave for material things but he overcame the temptations. The scripture declared concerning him “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” – Hebrews 4:15 (KJV). Satan tempts people to entice them into sin but like Jesus, we can overcome temptation.
The scripture makes it very clear that God is not the source of temptation for he cannot tempt with evil, neither does he tempt any man. But people are tempted when they are drawn away of their own lust. When such lust conceives it gives birth to sin and sin leads to death.
To overcome temptation, one should avoid the things one is prone to lust after. The bible says to make no room for the flesh. “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof” -. Romans 13:14 (KJV).
The Christian should guard his mind with all diligence and not make the mind a dumping ground for evil or lustful thoughts. When the mind is renewed, it focuses more on spiritual and godly things. When the word of God dwells in one richly in all wisdom, the result will be that one will be spiritually minded.
One must guard the doorways to the mind so that thoughts that will provoke lust are not entertained or allowed access. The doorway to the mind is the five senses.
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: o let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee”. Psalm 91:9, 11(KJV)
Prayer: I receive grace and discipline to overcome temptations in Jesus name.
Rev. Vincent Diolu