Matthew 6: The Sermon on the Mount (26)
Pray Psalm 26.1-3.
Vindicate me, O Lord,
For I have walked in my integrity.
I have also trusted in the Lord;
I shall not slip.
Examine me, O Lord, and prove me;
Try my mind and my heart.
For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
And I have walked in Your truth.
Sing Psalm 26.1-3.
Aberystwyth: Jesus, Lover of My Soul
Vindicate me, LORD on high; I have walked within Your Word.
Never wav’ring, though I sigh, I have trusted You, O LORD!
Prove me, LORD, prove even me! Test my heart and try my mind.
Let Your steadfast mercy be in the path for me to find.
Read Matthew 6.1-13; meditate on verse 13.
How can you tell when you are being tempted?
Prepare.
1. What is temptation? From where does it come?
2. What is available to us for resisting temptation?
Meditate.The Lord’s Prayer continues its forward-looking aspect, anticipating the spiritual warfare in which we carry out our callings from the Lord.
Temptation is inevitable, but it is not sin. Jesus was tempted, but without sin, as we have seen. God does not lead us into temptation, but we are led into temptation by our own lusts (Jms. 1.13, 14). German theologian Helmut Thielicke defined temptation as finding ourselves at the point of wanting to be disloyal to God. The evil one brings temptation before us, and when we find ourselves there, we have a choice to make.
Either we will continue to seek the Kingdom and will of our Father, or we will yield to the power of the father of lies. Either we will fall through temptation into sin, or we will grow through temptation unto greater righteousness. Only the power of God can enable us to resist the allure of temptation, and we must look through temptation to obedience and the power and Kingdom of our Father.
God allows us to come into temptation, but He does not lead us into it in such a way that we become ensnared and lose our spiritual footing. When temptation comes, we must recognize it as from the devil, seeking to hijack our errant desires, goading us on into temptation and sin; and we must resist him, so that he will flee from us (Jms. 4.17). Thus we may continue on the path of seeking the Kingdom and power of God, so that He is glorified in all we do.
Do not yield to temptation. God has the power to deliver you from it. Reach for Him in prayer.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Jesus had one three-pronged dust up with the devil in the wilderness (Matt. 4.1-11)
which began and ended with Jesus’ victory, as He was always overshadowed and accompanied by the Spirit.
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matt. 4.1) with the finale
of: “Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him” (Matt. 4.11).
The disciples seemed to have had many struggles during their walk around with Jesus; but then, after being filled with His Holy Spirit, we never again hear of, nor observe, any struggles against temptation, nor huge tumbles into sin. Although they were human, and of course did sin—Peter’s call out at Paul’s hands being one obvious occasion (Gal. 2.11-21)—gross falls just did not happen. They were so focused on their Kingdom work they did not have the time, inclination, or energy to get caught up in sin. They had their eyes fixed on a different prize. “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3.14).
Paul did write about a potential for being at the point of wanting to be disloyal to God, but how to be ultimately victorious (Rom. 7.15-25). He also wrote of his own struggle with grievous pain (either physical or emotional; maybe both) and how Jesus helped him overcome that, as well: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12.9).
Paul also wrote about our tendency to think that we, and we only, are tempted with a desire to sin. He very clearly says to us: Get over yourselves; and be safely disabused of the notion that your sin is unique. There is nothing special about your temptation; and really, folks, with the power of the Holy Spirit, you can master this. Think of our forebears in the faith: Joseph and Daniel. They did not fall into sin. They were not helpless to overcome their temptations. They are heroes of the faith. Therefore:
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man” (1 Cor. 10.13).
Plus, God has given you a means of escape (like Joseph and Daniel), you just need to employ it—pronto!
“Be sober, be vigilant…resist [the devil], steadfast in the faith…” (1 Pet. 5.8, 9).
“Resist the devil and he will flee from you…” (Jms. 4.7).
“Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me!” (Ps. 40.13).
“But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me,
so that the message might be preached fully through me,
and that all the Gentiles might hear.
Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work
and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.
To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” (2 Tim. 4.17, 18).
The LORD will preserve and deliver you, too.
We serve the hallowed heavenly Father Who empowers us to be victorious over sin.
“Yours is
the Kingdom and
the power and
the glory forever.
Amen.” (Matt. 6.13).
Reflect.
1. How would you counsel a new believer to recognize temptation?
2. How would you counsel a new believer to deal with temptation?
3. In which of the areas you mentioned above do you need to see improvement in your life?
“Lead us not into temptation,” that is, do not allow us to be led by the tempter. God forbid that our Lord should seem to be the tempter, as if he were not aware of one’s faith or were eager to upset it! That weakness and spitefulness belongs to the devil. Tertullian (155-250), On Prayer 8.1-3, 5-6
Pray Psalm 26.4-12.
Seek the Lord for cleansing from sin, and for the strength to resist temptation and seek only His Kingdom throughout the day ahead.
Sing Psalm 26.4-12.
Aberystwyth: Jesus, Lover of My Soul
Men of falsehood will not sit in my presence, nor will I
suffer any hypocrite to find favor in my eye.
All the wicked I abhor; ’round Your altar let me stand,
loudly singing evermore of Your gracious, mighty hand.
LORD, I love Your dwelling-place, there where all Your glory shines,
Keep my soul before Your face, lest for sinful ways it pine.
As for me, in righteousness, I shall walk on level ground;
save me, LORD, renew and bless! Let me with Your Church be found!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast continues readings from our book, The Kingdom Turn. Our Crosfigell teaching letter presses ahead in a series on the state of the Church in Europe at the time of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column looks at people in ministry. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
