Not Above Temptation

It is wise to remember that no matter how pure, holy and spotless you feel or how secure you think you are, you are not above being tempted! When you love Jesus, when he is the savior of your heart and ruler of your will, you are a marked person in hell. Satan will try to cut you down to the ground and it is a wise believer who realizes this in order to be equipped for the battle.

Paul explains why God permits the devil to try us so severely, “We had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9). Satan’s purpose is to engulf believers in guilt, fear and condemnation and make them discouraged and downcast, but the Lord takes care of his children.

David said, “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us alive” (Psalm 124:2-3).

David was sorely tempted, fell into adultery, lied and murdered an innocent man. When the prophet Nathan exposed him, Satan surely was convinced that David was down for the count. He expected the king to throw up his hands and exclaim, “What’s the use? I have disgraced God and committed the very sins I’ve preached against. God can never use me now!”

But listen to David’s cries after he repented. “The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death” (Psalm 118:18). He said, “I was tempted and tried, but God would not turn me over to Satan’s power!”

Beloved, if the devil comes at you with powerful temptations, it is not always because you have sin in your life. He could be attacking you because you have turned to the Lord and he is trying to destroy your faith. Let the following scripture encourage your heart:

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).