The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-24
Is temptation. There stands the

meets temptation. There stands the
fact.
do not know that the temptation Of
Jesus makes one whit more plain the.
awful mystery Of the origin and presence
Of evil 1t does not tell US why that
orecicice of temptation must skirt the
human life. 1t does not tell US what
the Devil is. But it declares the fact
of temptation. 1t declares that there is
SIN and face the Devil. The man who
has seen Christ tempted will not deny
temptation thencetorth. He will see that
In the temptation Of the perfect life it
is impossible for any man to escape.
One other truth comes out from the
fact of our Lords temptation. It is
the truth of the real limits Of sin.
Temptation is not sin, nor does 1T nee
essarily involve sin. Christ was sinless,s
yet tempted. 1t is in the yielding that.
the sin lies. Stand guard over that will,
resist that temptation, ana then to have
was to your Saviour-a glory, crown,
part OF your history, worthy to be
written in the Book Of Life!
This brings us to another point. Shall
men so on counting temptations and rum
ming into them, SO that they may come
out glorious and strong2 Consider well
our Lords temptation. There is one word
which alters it all.
Christ was lied up of the Spirit to be
tempted of the Devil He had a certain
work to do. That work was His Fathers,
not His own. His Fathers Spirit guided
Him, and told Him how to do it. For
some reason (who but that Spirit can say
what?) it was necessary, in the perform
ance of that work, that He should meet
the Devil in the wilderness. Therefore.
the Spirit led Him there, and, filled with
the Spirit all those forty days. by and by
He came down safe and victorious.
My friends, We, too, have our work to
do. Our Father gives it to u.s. as He
did to our Lord. In doing our duty we
may meet temptations; but if He leads
us He will protect us. If we go Of our
own self-will we have no pledge of His
protection. We leave at the door the
one guide whose company is safety
Every temptation into which Gods Spirit
leads you you may hope to conquer. Into
every temptation which you enter of your
own self-will you carry weakness that
already prophesies defeat. If your duty
lies right by the gates of hell walk there
boldly, and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against you. If your duty does
not carry you there You cannot be too
careful to keep out OF the way, as far
as possible. Such is the manifest diff
ference of the temptations into which
God leads us and those into which we run
ourselves. For God does lead us into
temptation. Always remember that the
petition in the Lords prayer, Lead us
not into temptation is prayed Just as
the other, Give us this day our daily
bread. Both are prayed with the clear
knowledge Of the possibility that God may
see 1t best, for higher purposes, to do
just the opposite-cut off the daily sup
ply, break down the walls about us, and
lead us right into temptation Both are
prayed (as all prayers must be prayedD
as trusting, loving children, telling our
Father our desires and leaving the result
with Him.
We are to-day beset with manifold
temptations, but here, in the midst of us,
ready to help, stands our tempted Saviour.
II we are true-hearted, then we shall
meet temptation as he met it-in the
strength of our God, who is Father Of
US all.
Every temptation that attacks us at,
tackled Him, and was conquered. We
are lighting with 4 defeated enemy. We
are struggling for victory already won.
whenever the battle RACES most fiercely.
and our courage falters, we will gain
fresh power if we recall that wonderful,
that blessed, day when Jesus was led
up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be
tempted Of the DEVIL