And Lead Us Not into Temptation

Here's The Word;

Mark 14:38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Temptation implies the ideas of being overtly seduced to fulfill lustful desires. I happen to think it's more than that. I believe Peter was tempted to deny Christ just as Judas did, but due to repentance and the foreknowledge of God, their stories ended very differently.

There's been a running dialogue in my life over the past few weeks and although I was excited about all the things it's caused me to think about, I wasn't sure if it could be related to this - I had no expectations for it.

Ever think much about your personality traits? As individuals, our personalities are as distinct and unique as our fingerprints. However, when it comes to tendencies, most personality profile test use only a few categories to delineate personality types. Think about YOUR personality type. Not what's your favorite color, but the things are you prone towards. Your tendencies. I think we should all take personal inventory and begin to see how our tendencies align with Christ since He's the Model God is using to shape us as new creations in Him - Romans 8:29.

So NOW when I consider Scripture's direction on temptation, it becomes personal to me. I hope it also becomes personal to you because I may not be as subject to failing or falling in ways that you are, and vice versa. James 3:2 says we ALL fall in many different ways.

There's a notable portion of Ephesians 4:26 that says "be angry and sin not". If you're the type that finds it hard to limit your expression once you've been angered, it's more conducive to Christ-likeness for you to tread more lightly in the midst of upsetting circumstances and I believe Scripture supports the idea that as you work toward that perfect balance, there will be times where you'll need to see your exit before you become overwhelmed.

Alternatively, there's a flip-side. You may be overly dismissive and have a hard time being engaging on issues where the Christ-like example is to speak up; for instance, sharing The Gospel. Now, temptation for you revolves around things that would have you continue in silence. In the same way, there will be times that you need to see your exit from being tempted to stay in silence.

Everything about God's Word points to redemption in the person of Christ. Everything in God's plan is to make you complete and completely reconciled in Him. So you see temptation then is much more than the avoidance and the undesirble ideas of smoking, drinking, pre-marital sex or riotous living, it's a prayer for strong continuance on the road of self-denial and Christ exaltation. Anything else is selfish and selfish is evil.

So consider your tendencies. Things that you lean to are either flat out wrong or can (and should) find their proper balance in Christ: Arrogance will be tempered with humility to the level of Christ. Shyness may still be reserved but mixed with compassion and a desire to reach the lost like Christ. A crippling fear of death won't become recklessness, but can be renovated with faith in Christ to an overwhelming sense God's will...and temptation is anything that gets pulls you away from that.

In Him,
Cros