The Persistence of Temptation
And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:13)
Luke 4:1-13; Heb. 2:14-18 and 4:15-16
What Is God Saying?
Luke, the physician, could examine a person’s physical and spiritual needs with unflinching eyes and deep compassion. Logically, he should be the one who presents the Son of God as the perfect human. God-become-human was in every respect tempted as we are, yet without sinning (Hebrews 2:18). Luke knows how humanity can fall prey to the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, and the demands for immediate satisfaction.
He was also aware that people have more than physical hunger. He sees all problems that come to us with a doctor's compassionate understanding. It is characteristic of the Gospel he wrote. He also knew that, as humans are what they are, temptations can return. They can come again and again. Look at our key verse again-victory over temptation and freedom from temptation are two different things. It was for Jesus. It will be for us.
How Does This Apply To Us?
It is helpful to know that although we continually face temptations, we can defeat them. We could be easily discouraged if a temptation we thought we had put to rest suddenly stirred to plague us again. But if we know that it might return and are equally confident that we can meet it in the strength of Jesus when it does, we will be better able to cope with temptation. Jesus "is able to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercessi0n for them" (Heb. 7:25).
Our real strength in temptation is our prayer to Him and His prayer for us. That is a winning combination. Temptation will come. Satan plans the attack at an opportune time. But He who saw us through one temptation will see us through all temptations. We need to pray for His grace, who was tempted as we are to the very end.
Pray With Me
O God, hold this truth before me today: having victory over temptation and having freedom from temptation are two different things.
When the great temptation was over, the devil departed from my Lord only "until an opportune time." Again and again, He heard temptation's voice. By His obedience and by His life of perfect holiness, Jesus conquered evil and "led captivity captive." He never deliberately exposed Himself to the forces of evil, nor did He retreat. He who was always free from sin was never free from temptation. He learned obedience through the things that He suffered.
Help me to draw fresh strength from this, dear Lord. Temptation may be a swaggering enemy or a seductive friend. It may stir me to angry impatience or lull me to spineless capitulation. Help me know that Jesus was tempted to the very end. You have promised to be with me to the very end. Be near me also in the hour of trial that I may neither be surprised nor discouraged by the persistence of temptation.
In the name of my ever-blessed Redeemer, I offer this prayer. In the name of my ever-present Friend, I claim this victory. Amen.
Moving On In The Life Of Prayer
Prayer based on God's Word is our greatest defense against temptation. Listen, then pray. Jesus answered every temptation by Satan with a quotation from Scripture. Listen, pray, and conquer—not just once but repeatedly. We can have victory over temptation until we are free from temptation when God comes to take us home. Not until then, but surely then. Thank God.
