SATURDAY, JANUARY 20
Luke 4:1
James 1:13-16

“…when lust hath conceived,
it bringeth forth sin…”

THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS CHRIST

This account took place after Jesus was baptized and was wonderfully declared to His disciples to be the Son of God and the Saviour of the world. The Son of God faced and endured temptations which we are constantly at war with. He single-handedly contested with the devil, so that by His victory we are assured of triumph over the enemy. Great attainments and God-given talents will not exempt us from being tempted, for even our Lord faced it. Satan will always find a way to attack God’s children. He has a particular eye for faithful servants, who are not only labouring for God but are fully surrendered to His will. Therefore every believer must double his guard. But one thing is sure: God, who prepares His own elect for temptation, will also give the strength needed before a fierce trial is allowed.

Jesus did not wilfully thrust Himself into temptation but was led up by the Spirit to be tempted of the devil. Matthew Henry said, “Our care must be, not to enter into temptation; but if God, by his providence, order us into circumstances of temptation for our trial, we must not think it strange, but double our guard. Be strong in the Lord, resist stedfast in the faith, and all shall be well.” We must not presume that we have the strength to resist the temptation. We must not tempt the Devil to tempt us, we must not provoke God to put us to shame when we find ourselves knocked out by Satan because of self-confidence. We are tempted when we are drawn aside of our own lust and enticed, “then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:15).

Whenever we encounter the lustful temptation of Satan, let us remember that his attacks can in no other way be repelled but by and in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Son of God undoubtedly allowed Himself to be tempted as a constant reminder to us that when Satan excites within us any contest of temptation, we have the promise of victory because He has conquered him already!

THOUGHT: Am I still trusting Jesus in the midst of temptations?
PRAYER: Victorious Father in heaven, help me to fight against the lustful temptations of Satan through the victory of Jesus.