“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 4:15
Did you know that Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses? He doesn’t scorn us for the weaknesses we display but rather has compassion on us because He too was tempted in every way that we are. That’s what the Bible says. Every single thing you have ever been tempted to be or do or say or feel or think, Jesus has been through that very experience. Just like you. So, you can be confident in the knowledge that Jesus knows and feels exactly what you are feeling because He felt it too before. He was in every respect, in all things, tempted as you are and yet did not sin. This means that Jesus is uniquely qualified to help you do it just like He did it. How did You do it Jesus? How were you able to say no to this particular temptation that I keep falling for over and over again?
I like the way the Amplified Bible puts 1 Corinthians 10:13:
No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].
Overcome temptation with joy. I want that. And I pray that God will open my eyes and yours to always see that way out that He provides and grant us the grace to choose it.
Though it sometimes feels like it, temptation in and of itself is not sin. And what a relief that is to know! Many times, we judge ourselves harshly for being tempted. However, it is oddly comforting to know that the perfect Jesus was tempted too. So, whenever I get tempted, I’m in good company and I have the best possible example to follow. And that is the key. Do not give in to temptation. You will be tempted to sin. Expect the temptation to come one time or the other, be on alert so as not to yield to it. Though Jesus was tempted to sin, He never yielded to the temptation. He never sinned. So how did He pull that off?
Let’s look at Matthew 4:1-11 where the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The Bible tells us that Jesus always answered each temptation with “it is written.” Jesus was referring to the words written in the Bible. This shows me that there is an answer to every temptation in the Word of God. Written in the Word of God, there is always an encouragement for us to choose the right path of righteousness that is contrary to the temptation being presented. There is always an example in the Word of God that points us to the will of God for and in that particular situation, that sets our minds on the things of God and not on gratifying fleshly desires that lead to sin.
Jesus quoted the Word of God back to the tempter the devil from memory. We can only do this if we have stored up the Word of God in our hearts by reading our Bibles everyday and meditating upon what we have read. The Psalmist could not have put it any better in Psalm 119:11:
“I have treasured Your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against You.”
Storing God’s Word in our hearts by reading the Bible persistently, speaking the Word of God out loud, meditating on it and memorizing Bible verses will help us to not sin against God.
Another way Jesus triumphed over temptation was that He told the devil to get away from Him. God never tempts us to sin because sin means separation from God and God does not want that. He loves us too much. It is the devil and the lusts of our flesh that tempt us to sin. So, we too when tempted should respond like Jesus, and say “Away from me Satan! For it is written…..” and then quote the appropriate Bible passage depending on what type of temptation you are facing. As you keep on reading more and more of the Bible, the Holy Spirit will continually reveal to you which Bible passage to quote and anchor your faith on in order to triumph against temptation.
John 14:26 assures us that as we read the Bible, the Holy Spirit will remind us of all that Jesus has said to us in His Word. Isn’t that just so wonderful to know!? That is why Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as our Helper. Because He helps us to remember the Word of God and to apply it in our daily lives and every situation.
And finally, once Jesus rebuked the devil and he left, angels came and ministered to Jesus. Once we have realized that the devil is tempting us to sin, when we have responded by proclaiming the Word of God over the situation and told the devil to get away from us, let us allow God to minister His grace and mercy unto us. The grace of God helps us triumph over temptation that leads to sin. And we have access to this grace through Jesus.
Hebrews 4:16 is a warm invitation for us to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. The confidence is that we are approaching God’s throne through Jesus our Savior, Mediator and Great High Priest. This is an act of faith, because we believe Jesus when He says we can do all this through Him.
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Read more of Rachel’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
