“I am so tempted to . . .”
How many times have we uttered this phrase and whatever follows? In our culture, “being tempted” to say or do something against another is to suggest we are inwardly inclined toward it, somehow feeling both justified and convicted at the same time. Biblically, however, temptation is revealed as far more insidious—rooted in evil and deliberately perpetrated against us by an outside actor, Satan, or “the tempter,”1 as Matthew described him. In this truest sense, “I am so tempted” is to recognize the evil one is deceptively luring me into disbelieving God’s promises and disobeying His commands. Jesus once told His bold disciple, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.”2 What were the spoils in this celestial tug of war? Simon’s faith: Satan would topple it; Jesus would buttress it.
Have you ever been tempted to disbelieve in Jesus as the Son of God and our eternal life found solely in Him? I have, insofar as there is an active tempter, our adversary, who “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”3 The devil would destroy us, and none of us are exempt from his hate. At times, I’ve been fearful of misplaced faith; other times I’ve feared eternal nothingness. Still other times, I’ve futilely sought out a feeling upon which to base my faith, instead of entrusting myself to the One who, in turn, elates my soul. These temptations are both common and serious in our battle “against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”4 And it was clearly on Paul’s mind upon writing to the church in Thessalonica, “I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.”5
But Jesus is who He says He is and He does as He has promised to do. Of His people—His “sheep”—Jesus assures us, “no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”6 And of our enemy, the devil, Peter instructs us and assures us even more: “Resist him, firm in your faith . . . And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”7 We find this to be true. For He is faithful. Praise His name.
Lord, you are faithful. You will establish us and guard us against the evil one.8 You are our strength; you are our hope. Thank you for your faithfulness to us, your people. In Christ we glory. Amen.
1 Matthew 4:3 ESV
2 Luke 22:31 ESV, emphasis added
3 1 Peter 5:8 ESV
4 Ephesians 6:12 NLT
5 1 Thessalonians 3:5 ESV
6 John 10:29 ESV
7 1 Peter 5:9-10 ESV
8 2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV
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