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No One Free from Temptation, September 7
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice,
though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through
manifold temptations.
1 Peter 1:5, 6
.
Do not think that the Christian life is free from temptation. Tempta-
tions will come to every Christian. Both the Christian and the one who
does not accept Christ as his leader will have trials. The difference is that
the latter is serving a tyrant, doing his mean drudgery, while the Christian
is serving the One who died to give him eternal life. Do not look upon
trial as something strange, but as the means by which we are to be purified
and strengthened. “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations,”
James admonishes; “knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh
patience” (
James 1:2, 3
).
In the future life we shall understand things that here greatly perplex
us. We shall realize how strong a helper we had and how angels of God
were commissioned to guard us as we followed the counsel of the Word
of God.
To all who receive Him, Christ will give power to become the sons of
God. He is a present help in every time of need. Let us be ashamed of our
wavering faith. Those who are overcome have only themselves to blame
for their failure to resist the enemy. All who choose can come to Christ
and find the help they need.
There stands among you the mighty Counselor of the ages, inviting
you to place your confidence in Him. Shall we turn away from Him to
uncertain human beings, who are as wholly dependent on God as we
ourselves are? Have we fallen so far below our privileges? Have we not
been guilty of expecting so little that we have not asked for what God is
longing to give?
“I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of
the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the
great goodness toward the house of Israel.... For he said, Surely they
are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. In all
their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them”
(
Isaiah 63:7-9
).
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