Daily Devotionals

Pressure Point Week 2: Monday

 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. James 1:13

We often use the word "temptation" loosely. The other day, I saw a delicious-looking  pastry and said, "That looks tempting!" Wrapped presents around kids are very tempting. Just seeing a sign that says, "Do not enter" makes some tempted to enter. This list, of course, does not include the very real, difficult temptations we all fight against daily. When we face temptation after temptation, many of us tend to want to blame someone or something. Some of us may even want to blame God. Blaming God for our temptations is undoubtedly not how Christ-followers are to respond to temptations that come. In fact, Scripture warns us about blaming God when it comes to temptations because God does not tempt others, and He cannot be overcome by temptation.

James, Jesus' half-brother and the writer of the book of James, told readers in James 1, "And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, 'God is tempting me.' God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else" (verse 13). James was clear in this verse: God never tempts anyone. He is never to be blamed for our temptation. Instead of blaming God for our temptations, the better response is to fight against temptation when it comes. No one showed us how to fight against temptation better than Jesus. Right before His earthly ministry began, Matthew 4 shows us that the Holy Spirit led Him wilderness to be tempted there by the devil (verses 1 and 2). Each time Satan tempted him, Jesus quoted Scripture to fight against the temptations thrown at Him. The Scripture references He quoted were directly related to the temptations He faced. His example shows us the importance of knowing Scripture so that we, too, can effectively fight against temptations thrown at us.

Regarding temptation, we can fight in the same way that Jesus did. To do that well, we have to know Scripture. We have to memorize it. We must combat the temptations we face with the truths in Scripture. Instead of looking for someone or something to blame when we are tempted, let's fight instead!

Moving toward action

Pull out a notebook or journal and reflect on how Jesus overcame temptation. What stands out to you about how Jesus worked through temptation? How can you follow His example when you are tempted? Make a plan for steps to take and follow the example Jesus set when you face temptations to better fight against them.

Going Deeper

Matthew 4:1-11

"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

3 During that time the devil came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread."

4 But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say,

'People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,

'He will order his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you up with their hands
so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.'"

7 Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, 'You must not test the Lord your God.'"

8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 "I will give it all to you," he said, "if you will kneel down and worship me."

10 "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say,

'You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.'"

11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus."