“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;” – James 1:2 KJV
Temptations will come to all children of God. Jesus, our master and Lord was tempted by Satan . Matthew 4:1 KJV, “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil”. So if Jesus was tempted, we his children should not expect less.
We also need to note that we do not commit sin by temptation but by our response to it. Where we fall for the temptation, sin comes in but where we are able to overcome the temptation by the word of God, we become stronger in Christ.
We should learn the right response to temptations from our Lord Jesus.
The tempter came after Jesus had fasted for forty nights and days and tempted him of the demands of his flesh; he was hungry and was tempted of food, then of power knowing that he had just been spiritually empowered and finally by sovereignty, knowing that he would be in charge of all things.
In all Jesus responded with scriptures and refused to let the lust of eyes, lust of flesh and pride of life deprive him of his long term goal of being the Saviour of All.
When temptations come at work because you need promotion or money, or among friends because of ego or relationship, it is always important that we remember, it is an opportunity to prove our love for Christ, show we are ready to wait for God’s time and ready to stand by our integrity.
If you have just fallen for a temptation, that is not the end of the world. Open up to Christ, ask for mercy and make up your mind to live above board going forward but recognizing that only the Holy Spirit can make us win at all times. And when another opportunity comes, face it like you will face an examination where you know all the answers quite well. Apostle James says in James 1:2 KJV, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;”
So we need to study our bible regularly to know the right response to temptations like Christ did so that we can count it all joy when we are tempted.
Prayer: Almighty God, guide me to make the right decisions every time I am faced with temptations in Jesus name.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero