Temptation

 

"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." Genesis 3:6

 

"Then the LORD said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.'" Genesis 4:6,7

 

"When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed." James 1:13,14

 

"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry." Matthew 4:1,2

 

"At once the Spirit sent Him out into the desert, and He was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended Him." Mark 1:12, 13

"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them He was hungry." Luke 4:1,2

 

"Because He himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted." Hebrews 2:18

 

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16

 

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

 

 

Beloved, whatever it is that's tempting you, it's nothing new to God. He is not shocked by our problems. Tell Him everything – ask Him to help you. Nothing is beyond His power or command. When the storm nearly swamped their boat, the disciples cried out to Jesus, "Don't you care if we drown?" Yes. He cares. He got up, and with one word, Jesus calmed the raging sea and the storm was gone without a trace. Remember Who it is that you're praying to. He's God! The Sovereign LORD, the great I AM … your Father in Heaven. No one can snatch you from His hand, and nothing – NOTHING – can ever separate you from His love.

Listen to the words of a completely changed Peter, restored by the resurrected Jesus after denying Him three times under the terrible temptation of fear:

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in Heaven for you – who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:3-9

 

Jesus only wants you to believe Him, to trust Him with your problem – your life – no matter how bad it is. Your faith is more precious to God than anything else. He can and will do great things with your faith, if you will only invest it in Him. Come to Him, and you will find a most gracious and merciful Savior Who will bring you through.