A study in temptation (1)

There's a misconception about temptation that we're calling out today. It's the expectation that, as Christians, our temptations will cease, or at least decrease. If we buy the subtle lie that Christian life gets easier, then when things go wrong we're much more likely to start looking for the exit. It's exactly the lie someone would whisper in our ears if they were a deceiving personality who hated God and wanted to stop people following him... hey, that's our number one enemy's strategy!

Flashback to Israel's exodus: having been liberated from the oppression of the ancient Egyptians, and ready to be led towards the Promised Land, the Israelites came face to face with the Canaanites, who didn't fancy inviting a new nation in. Self-doubt crept in, then doubt of God's promises, and suddenly both 'Project: Promised-Land' and Israel's entire relationship with God were in doubt (see Numbers 13:16 - 14:10). It took God showing up to shut up the rebels. God hadn't abandoned Israel just because things seemed tough; he was leading them on to a new stage in their relationship with him.

Getting to the 'promised land' of victory requires wrestling with temptations that regularly threaten us along the way. Jesus tells us that he will always give us a way out (see 1 Corinthians 10:13).



So what now? Through Jesus, we have the power to overcome our temptations and look ahead to a life of freedom and victory.





— SCRIPTURE —

'Deliver us from the evil one.' Matthew 6:13 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

Neh 5-7, John 18:12-24, Ps 150, Pro 29:22-27