Temptation is everywhere! Because we are living in a sinful world, and we have a sinful nature, we are bombarded with temptations in every area of our lives. For instance, I am what some would call a “foodie.” I love food! I enjoy cooking, trying new recipes, eating new things, and going to different restaurants. Therefore, when I am on a diet, it is a great temptation for me. It seems that everywhere I look during this time, there is a presentation of food before me. When I’m settled in for the night, determined that food is behind me for a few hours, feeling good that I haven’t given in to the urge to raid the pantry for a late-night snack, what happens? Every commercial is about food! Even companies that are supposed to be selling you diet foods have pictures so real and tantalizing you want to take a bite out of the tv screen. Whatever it is that you have determined you will not do, Satan will find a way to tempt you to fail in your desire to overcome. In Hebrews 2:18, we see Jesus who is able to succor, or help, those who are tempted. This word “tempted” may be a literal temptation from Satan, which Jesus overcame, or a trial or test that we must pass to prove our true character or love for God. In either situation, Jesus is able to give aid to us.
Hebrews 2:18 “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.”
He is able to aid us when we are tempted by the devil because He was tempted and did not succumb to the temptation. In Matthew chapter 4, we have the account of the temptation of Christ. He was tempted with food after he had fasted for 40 days and nights. If Jesus would have turned the stones into bread, He could have had instant gratification for His hungry belly. This type of spectacle would fit well into today’s society. We don’t want to wait on anything. We have conditioned ourselves to give into what feels good for the moment. The next temptation that the devil used would yield to the human side of testing God’s love. If Jesus jumped from the pinnacle and He was God’s Son, then of course God would be obligated to rescue Him. Jesus was not going to yield to this temptation either. This was a tempting or testing of the Lord God, and His word. Matthew 4:7 “Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” The last temptation dealt with control or power. This is one we are all tempted with. We want to govern our own lives and it is difficult to relinquish that to anyone, even God. Matthew 4:8-10 “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
We all suffer temptations of varied kinds, but God is able to help us to overcome them. Jesus was at His weakest point physically, emotionally, and mentally when He was in the wilderness. He did not use His deity to overcome the temptations. He stayed true to His desire to please the Father. He yielded His will, to God’s will. This is evidence that we can too. It really depends on how much you love God. When you love someone more than you love yourself, you will yield your desires to theirs. Often, we enter into a “pity party” and convince ourselves that we are the only ones that have ever dealt with our type of situation. When we feel this way, it’s easy to give ourselves permission to yield to temptation rather than looking to God for help to overcome it.
When we are tempted, God is able and desires to help us overcome, but we must submit to Him and not our flesh. He will give us joy and peace as we seek Him. Nothing on this earth can compare to what He has to offer in this life and the life hereafter.
