by Elizabeth George April 26, 2022
When Satan tempted the Lord during His 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus responded to every temptation by quoting God’s Word (Matthew 4:4-10). Why? Because God’s Word is truth, and only truth can refute the lies Satan sends our way when he tempts us. Satan wants us to believe sin will give us pleasure and satisfaction. By contrast, God’s truth warns that sin leads to guilt, emptiness, and painful consequences.
Temptation comes into every believer’s life — not one of us is immune. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.”
In these reassuring words, God promises you deliverance from sin. He promises an exit. There is no need to view temptation as a bad thing. It is simply an opportunity to strengthen and reaffirm your faith and trust in God. Facing temptation and staying strong adds maturity to your Christian life.
When temptation comes your way, realize that you are never left alone. By His very nature, God cannot leave you alone. He is present with you as you face temptation. By His grace, you will be able to resist it.
Although God doesn’t always remove temptation, He does promise to keep temptation from becoming too strong for you to handle. Temptation can be resisted because God says you can “endure it.” And God also promises to “provide the way of escape.”
Are you well-armed with God’s Word? Are you familiar with its promises? Are you fighting your battles against temptation with the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17)? Get to know what the Bible says about the kinds of temptations you face and fortify yourself against them. Whether you endure or escape, you are to be actively resisting temptation, resisting it with the Word of God, and on the lookout for His promised deliverance.
Lord, help me to prepare for the lies that are likely to bombard me today. Thank You for arming me with Your truth and teaching me to use the sword of the Spirit effectively. Amen.
In The Basic Bible Pocket Guide, Jim George gives a straight-to-the-point summary of each book in God's Word and a panoramic overview of all the Bible's high points from beginning to end to help readers master the big picture of what the Bible is all about.
Am I actively fighting temptation with the Word of God? How can I remind myself of the Word when I find myself being tempted?
God is faithful to provide a way out from giving into temptation, and His Word is a powerful weapon against temptation.
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Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
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