"For our High Priest (Jesus Christ) is able to understand our weaknesses. When He lived on Earth, He was tempted in every way that we are, but He did not sin." (Hebrews 4:15)
Will we be tempted? Yes.
Do we HAVE to give in? No.
I’ve read many kinds of "lists of things to do" when we are tempted.
We are told to "read the Bible" when we feel tempted. That’s easy to
say,.. but, not so easy to do! Others say, Pray Hard, when you are
tempted! But, what if I don’t feel like praying at that time?
The Bible tells us to "resist the devil".. and it sounds right, but it’s
NOT that easy to resist sometimes, when you are "under the gun."
It’s hard to even THINK correctly, when you’re being tempted!
The one thing that I had been over-looking,... the One thing that MOST
people overlook, or forget about,... is The Person of Jesus Himself! He
lives inside of me, through His Spirit, for a very good reason: He never
gave in to temptations and He is the ONLY one who can do it again,
through me, and through you!
For example: Jesus is my peace. I don’t get peace by praying for it, or
by running after it, or by asking for "it". I get Peace ONLY from the Prince
of Peace. Peace comes from nowhere else.
What I’m saying is this: Jesus truly IS my victory! I don’t get victory by
praying for it,.. or by running after it,.. or by asking for it,.. Victory is MINE
because Jesus lives inside of me! It’s the same with True Joy! HE is my
Joy! It’s the same with Salvation! HE is my salvation! I’m saved NOT
because of something which I do,.. I’m saved because of what Jesus did,
and HE IS LIFE ETERNAL! Since He lives inside of me, I posess it, too!
It’s the same with Forgiveness. Only HE can forgive sins. I’m forgiven
because HE’s inside of me! I’m justified because HE’s inside of me! I used
to try to break this all down, and I usually ended up trying to do all the "right
things".. like Praying,.. and Reading my Bible,.. and resisting,.. and all the
other things we are told to do when we are being tempted.
But, I wasn’t having much success! Resisting temptations, or fleeing from
temptations, or any of the other things we are supposed to do,... (like following
a list of "do’s") but, in doing "all those things"... Am I trying to do them,..
without Jesus? HE wants to do it,.. IN me,.. and THROUGH me!
He wants to BE the victory inside of me! It’s NOT about me trying to please
God, by resisting desires, or by shouting at the devil! Victory is mine because
of Who it is that lives inside of me!
We all get REAL good at following lists of rules (or laws).. and hoping that
THEY will keep us safe,.. and in the process we forget about The One who truly
saves us from sin! He is the One who IS our victory! He is the One who’s
already defeated the enemy!
So, what does this mean for me? I have discovered that I can’t fight the devil!
And neither can you! Why should we even try? Jesus has already defeated him!
We just need to rest in the victory that Jesus has already won for us!
What is it that I should do? Ours is a life of faith. It’s not by my trying,.. it’s not
by my resisting,.. it’s not by my words, or because of my actions. It’s a victorious
life because of Jesus! We need to rest in HIS victory, by BELIEVING that I have
the victory,.. all because of Jesus did (and does) for me!
How do I do that? I trust HIM to keep me from the evil one! I give HIM the right
to answer the door, when satan comes knocking! When satan whispers, I hear
Jesus speaking words of comfort, giving me HIS strength, and HIS power to resist.
It’s a life of faith,... Trusting in HIM to guard me, to protect me, to lead me away,
to guide me through the devil’s mine field!
