On Temptation

Therefore let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:12–13 (RSV)

St. Paul is correct; everyone is tempted in some way. It is the spiritual condition in which we find ourselves. We have inherited this weakness from our first parents, Adam and Eve. Every temptation has, at its core, our desire to be God.

It may not appear so to us as we being tempted, but it is the goal of any temptation. Even if there were no devil to whisper in our ears, we would find ourselves tempted to rebel against the Lord.

We are engaged daily in spiritual warfare against the devil, the world, and our sinful self. One or all of these three are working on us in their effort to lead us away from God. Every Christian is to be on their guard to see it for what it is when temptation comes.

St. Paul reminds us that we will not be tempted beyond our strength. We will be provided the means to endure and escape the consequences of any temptation. We may say, "How can this be? I have been tempted and failed far too often." True, we all have failed when tempted. We have been unable due to our reliance on ourselves alone. If we try to endure temptation apart from the strength of the Lord, we will fail.

The Lord is our strength. When our strength fails, when we cannot stand any longer on our own, it is the Lord who rescues us. Jesus endured all manner of temptation. He died on the Cross. He has promised to be with us in all our trials, for He endured them all. We ask Him each time we pray the Lord's Prayer, "Lead us not into temptation," or as some translations read, "Save us in the time of trial."

However they come, no temptation can overwhelm us as we stand firm in Jesus.