Life Capsule for Today Date 8th August, 2022
Theme: Overcoming Temptation (2)
Text: Matt 6:13
13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. NKJV
Topic: Why does God allow temptation
Today’s Reading: 1 Cor 10:13
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. NKJV
Words of the Ministry:
Our topic for today’s sharing happens to be one of the most common that comes to mind. When taking a Sunday school class with little children especially when teaching on the fall of man, it is common to hear the question why does God allow temptation. In our adult live as we grow we atimes ask ourselves this same question especially now that we know the devil is the source of all temptation, we may even ask why wouldn’t God just stop the devil or kill him. That is the reason for today’s sharing, why does God allow temptation. Yesterday we learnt that temptation is common to all regardless of our spiritual position, years of learning or growth in life, at one point or the other, the devil comes tempting. May I again emphasize that God doesn’t tempt anyone as the bible teaches (James 1.13)
Temptation should not be misinterpreted as suffering, we live in a fallen world full of evil, the consequence of overcoming a temptation could result in suffering. As Christians, we must learn to overcome and bear suffering as a bid to avoid suffering, hardship and other difficulties in itself may lead to us yielding to temptation. Also temptation is not testing, while God does not tempt us, he atimes test us, to see our level of faithfulness, trust and to improve on our character. Our God is good and holy yet he tests us just as he did with Abraham in Gen 22 when he was asked to sacrifice his only son, Abraham exercised faith in God and so did Isaac as that event turned the absolute love and trust Isaac had on his father towards God, Abraham passed the test, he was rewarded and his faith in God grew, so while the goal of temptation is to make us sin, God’s testing is to grow us in the divine life.
Now to our question on why God allows temptation, we must realize that God created man as a free mortal agent having the ability to choose, the devil also wanting g to prove to God that we are not as loyal as God thinks try to suggest avenues to make us sin against God thereby affecting our testimony and walk with God. God permits the tempter within certain limits as we see in the case of Job to allow us express our free will, commitment and love as this is more honorable to God than for him to force his love on us. Just as we saw with Job, when the devil comes tempting us, it is to make us sin against God and God permitting the temptation is to show to the devil that we are his regardless of the threat and suffering. As saints we must resist temptation and be willing to suffer as this brings much glory to God. God would not allow us to be tempted beyond out ability and that means we would face different levels of temptation based on our frame and maturity but keep in mind that if God permits it, it’s because you have what it takes to overcome it.
Bible in One Year: Isiah 38-42
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