God is always watching us. David was very sensitive to the presence of God. He knew “The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God” (Psalm 14:2 NLT). The truth is, throughout life we will continuously be tested. God watches us to prove us; to see if we will seek Him. Temptation is a form of proving.
Even Jesus was proved before beginning His ministry. “Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil” (Luke 4:1-2).
Notice He was “led by the Spirit.” God brought Him there. The devil was only used to temp Him to see if He would yield or remain “truly wise” and faithful to God. In teaching the disciples to pray, Jesus later spoke on the subject of temptation. In “The Lord’s Prayer” many translations say, “lead us not into temptation.” This can be confusing. Jesus wasn’t saying we should ask God not to allow us to be tempted. He will. A more accurate interpretation is, “And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13 NLT);
Yielding, or giving in to the temptation is the test. God tests our heart. He will allow us to be examined to prove our trusting faith, integrity and wisdom.
RELEVANCE
James clarified this in James 1:12-15. He made the point that the desires in our heart prove us.
“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”
REFLECT AND RELATE
Meditate on when and how you yield to temptation. Ask God for the power to resist falling prey to temptations. It comes from the Holy Spirit.
REFERENCES
Matthew 26:41; James 4:7-9