Year of the Bible: Part Eleven of TwelveSample

Lean In

We all encounter temptation and must make choices regarding our response. Facing temptations is normal and common, yet the writer of Hebrews charges all believers to stand firm in the Word of God and allow it to shape the choices we make.

Hope is offered in the fact that Jesus is the great high priest, but because He also became a man, He can identify with our temptations. Hebrews encourages the reader to press on toward Jesus. Jesus knows where we are weak because He has lived through the same things. Since He resisted all temptation and lived sinlessly, He can empower you to do the same. It seems impossible, doesn’t it?

Whether we are tempted to sin or doubt our faith, the temptations Jesus endured on earth should encourage us to let Him help us face our temptations. We should not look at His sinlessness and exclaim, “Well, He was God!” While He was God, He was also fully human, and because He was both, we can trust Him to help us.

Dr. Tony Evans reframes this common scenario in human experience: “When you’re tempted to give up, that temptation is actually an invitation to draw near to the King’s throne, so you may receive mercy and find grace. Mercy is not getting what you deserve; grace is getting what you don’t deserve.” To get these gifts from God, we simply need to draw near and ask. God is always waving us over to get close to Him. Don’t hide—get closer and get what you need.

We can find what we need when we lean into Jesus. He is not intimidated by our doubts, questions, or tendency toward sin. He paid for all of it.

Question: Who do you need God to be for you right now?

Prayer: Don’t focus on the future or lament the past. Ask God, “Whom do you want to be for me at this moment?” What did He say? Take time to journal about His response to you and decide what you will do with the temptation in front of you.