When Building A Life For GodSample

Expect Temptations

Nehemiah was nearly done building the walls of Jerusalem when a temptation to sin arrived. Why do you think that is? Could it be that Satan knows if he can get us to fall into sin, even at the end of our work for the Lord, he could ruin all that has been done?

In verses 10-14 of our reading today, we find two different temptations that came Nehemiah’s way. First, he was tempted to fall into the sin of fear. We have already discussed fear but I just want to add this: fear is a sin. Just like all other sin, fear is against God’s holiness and plan for our lives. As we read earlier in 2 Timothy 1:7, fear is not from God and therefore must be the workings of Satan himself. This prophet was hired to tempt Nehemiah into fear to keep him from accomplishing the purpose God had for him. 

In addition to fear, Nehemiah was also tempted with the sin of disobedience. Notice in this passage where the prophet wants Nehemiah to hide: in the Temple. According to Old Testament law which was set out by God, the only people who could go into the innermost room of the Temple were the priests, and Nehemiah was not one of them. If he had given into this temptation to disobey, Nehemiah could have been seen as one who had no respect for God and His laws. As a result, he may not have been trusted to carry out this “calling of God” to rebuild the walls. 

One of the hardest truths of the Christian experience is that even after we have placed our faith in Christ for salvation, we are still affected by the temptations to sin. We will not be completely set free from these temptations until we enter the gates of eternity, therefore we must continually EXPECT them. Even in the Lord’s prayer Jesus included this line: “And lead us not into temptation.” So even Jesus wanted us to EXPECT temptations when we choose to build our lives for Him. 

PRAYER POINT FOR THE DAY: Ask God to keep you from the things that might tempt you to sin no matter how innocent or good they may appear. 

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