12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.{ James 1:12 – 18}
A mature Christian is expected by God to master the act of handling temptations, no matter how subtle the devil brings it. If we are not careful, the testings on the outside may become temptations on the inside. When we face difficult circumstances, we may find ourselves complaining against God, questioning His love for us and resisting His will for our life. At this point, satan provides us with an opportunity to escape the difficulty.
Certainly, God does not want us to yield to temptation, yet He cannot spare us from experiencing temptation. If we are to be Matured Christian’s, we must face temptations and always come out victorious.
It is an opportunity to accomplish a good thing or do a good work in a bad way, out of God’s will and purpose.
Temptation can also be seen as the opportunities provided by satan to help or assist a child of God escape difficulties, trials or challenging circumstances/times in his/her life.
Temptation can equally be seen as the opportunities created by the devil to seduce/lure a believer out of the will/purpose of God for his/her life.
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (James 1:13)
It is an established fact that God is a good God and as such cannot tempt anyone with evil. Its clear that the origin of temptation is evil and can only be associated with the devil and not God.
The duty of God in temptation is to make a way of escape for the believer going through temptation. He delivers the believers from temptation because He knows the strategies of the devil, and can effectively disappoint his many devices against the believer. Victory in temptation is only guaranteed when we receive instructions from God through the Holy Spirit.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. [1 Corinthians 10: 13]
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: [2 Peter 2:9]
And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. (Mark 1:13).
And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. (Luke 4:13)
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (James 1:14)
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (Eph 2:3)
