Friday, 3rd May 2024

Alex Buabeng-Korsah

TOPIC: UNDERESTIMATING TEMPTATION

THEME SCRIPTURE: “Let no man say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted of God’: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither does He tempt any man.”– James 1:13

 

PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:

1. What is temptation?

2. Why do good Christians fall into temptations

 

Throughout scripture, men and women have underestimated temptations, opponents, situations and godly instructions to their own detriment. Eve underestimated the serpent, the people of Noah’s days underestimated the flood, Goliath underestimated David and Sisera underestimated Jael. Today, good Christians continue to underestimate the devil’s schemes, temptations and agents. In our theme scripture, we are admonished not to think that temptations are from God.

The reason is that temptations, unlike trials, are designed to destroy the child of God. Temptation is a tool of the devil to lure the believer of Christ into sin and destruction. 

Samson knows very well the problem of underestimating temptations, as a child of God. In His days, the Philistines sought to bring Samson under control as slave masters. With the jawbone of a donkey, Samson killed a 1000 Philistine soldiers in Lehi (Judges 15:14-15). Samson was so powerful he might have felt that nothing could defeat him. Any time he shakes himself, the strength of God becomes available to him. Then, he underestimated the power of seduction and the temptation of Delilah. When Samson told Delilah the source of his strength, presumably, Samson regarded it as a game. But to Delilah, it was entirely business (Judges 16:5). When the Philistines came up upon Samson, he said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord God had departed from him (Judges 16:20).

Beloved in Christ, it is not a matter of whether you are prayerful or not, or whether you are most anointed.

It is not about how powerful you are as Samson. Rather, it is about being sober and vigilant because the adversary the devil is walking about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Great men of faith have fallen into diverse temptations, and thereby making shipwreck of their faith, and why was that?

Like Samson, we easily fall into temptation when we let pride lead us. The deception of temptation is this: “You are spiritually stronger than the temptation so there is no cause for alarm; there’s no harm playing around it” or “You are a spiritual heavyweight, you're above the basics of the faith.” Such deception allows the child of God to entertain temptations in his court. Yeah, you are spiritually strong but are you spiritually wise? And who ascribed to you spiritual heavyweight? This is how pride creeps into our lives.

Precious one, temptations may come in various forms—sexual immorality, financial malfeasance, self glorification, etc.

However, if we are going to be great in the kingdom and live above all forms of temptations, it is important that we are humble as little children (Matt 18:4), knowing nothing and wanting nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor 2:2). It is important that we are sober and vigilant through the word of God, giving no place to temptation. Learn to recognize temptations and flee, no matter how small it may look. Remain blessed.

 

 

FURTHER READING – Judges 16

 Call to Salvation: Today is your day if you have not received salvation by turning over your life to Jesus Christ. Click here to do so 

 

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:

1. Have you ever fallen into temptation, and what have you learnt from it?

 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I receive your strength and also your wisdom today to live above all forms of temptation in these last days. I declare that by the wisdom of God, the strategies, schemes and devices of the devil are clear to me, and in Jesus’ name, I am an overcomer. Amen.

 

1-Year Bible Reading Plan

Numbers 15; Proverbs 11; Luke 24