How to Face Life's ChallengesShembull

How to Face Temptation

You have influence. There are people watching how you speak and behave. They’re looking to you for wisdom and insight – directly or inadvertently. Generally, as your influence increases, so do the tests and temptations you face. It’s important to note that Jesus isn’t tempted by Satan (Matthew 4) because He’s been doing something wrong. God the Father has just declared over Jesus: ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with Him, I am well pleased.’ (Matthew 3:17) Immediately after this, the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness, where He’s tempted. If you find yourself sorely tempted, it’s not necessarily because you’ve failed or stepped out of God’s will. Temptation may be a sign of your influence – a clue that you’re in exactly the right place.

Temptation shows up in our own lives in all the same ways it plays out in Jesus’ wilderness temptation. The first temptation relates to our pursuits. The enemy tempts Jesus to pursue bread. Bread’s a good thing. But it would have distracted Jesus from absolute reliance on God. Ask God to help you see where you’re tempted to pursue a good thing – a possession, position, or person – that may distract you from what God’s calling you to pursue. It’s possible too that your success in a particular area has tempted you to be self-sufficient, overly confident in your abilities, or less reliant on God. The truth is, success can be harder to steward than suffering.

The second temptation Jesus faces – and it’s one we face too – relates to others’ perceptions and expectations. The devil taunts Jesus, daring Him to leap off a building. Jesus doesn’t do it: He has nothing to prove; He knows who He is. Too often, we’re tempted to change our behaviour because of ideas others have of us, or we feel pressured to live up to someone’s opinion of us. To diffuse that temptation, rest in God’s opinion of you.

The third temptation relates to position: seizing success without relying on God’s strength, ways, or timing. Satan offers Jesus the Kingdom without the cross, and we should be wary of influence that doesn’t cost us anything. (Have you ever witnessed someone prematurely grabbing hold of power or position? How did that work out for them?)

Temptation is inevitable because we have a real enemy bent on our destruction and the undermining of God’s Kingdom. Paul reminds us, however, that God will always give us the offramp of a better choice when we’re tempted (1 Corinthians 10:13). Paul also urges us, ‘And do not give the devil an opportunity to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harbouring resentment, or cultivating bitterness.’ (Ephesians 4:27, Amplified Bible) Rather, ‘resist the devil, and he will flee from you.’ (James 4:7) With God’s help, it is possible to overcome temptation. May God strengthen you and set you right where your motives for pursuing something have been skewed. May you have the clarity and resolve to be who God says you are, free from the pressure to be or to do what those around you expect. May you gladly keep pace with God’s Spirit as He leads you into His best plans for you – in His way, in His time, in His strength, and for His glory.

This plan was adapted from the series, How to Face Life’s Challenges, on RightNow Media. To find out more, visit: https://www.rightnowmedia.org/uk/get-access