Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-20
Tempted as We Are.

To Him be glory, honor dominion and
might everlasting!
Tempted as We Are.
The Savior was not tempted with the
weakness of a debauchee or a libertine.
neither are those the temptations
which come to us, His foot step fol-
lowers We are to remember that the
Scriptures clearly differentiate between
us and the world. we are not of the
world even as / am not of the world.
Tempted like as we are therefore
signifies that the temptations or trials
which Jehovah permits to come upon
His consecrated people are of the same
kind that He permitted to come upon
our Redeenler.
1t is important, therefore, that we
notice the character of our tests. God
is not testing us to see whether or not
our flesh is perfect, for He knew all
along that amongst men there is none
righteous, no, not one. The Fathers
tests for those whom He receives as
sons are tests of loyalty to Him, 10y
atty to the principles of Righteousness,
to the Truth, to the Divine methods
a refusal to take our own way or to
seek our own glory or ease at the ex
pense of Truth or of the Divine meth
cd.
Jesus Three Temptations.
The Adversary appeared-not as an
enemy and a fiend of darkness, but as
a friend, "as an angel of light QI
Cor XII. 13-15) He professed interest
in the Saviors welfare and an interest
also in His work.
The first temptation failed, and Sa-
tan tried another. We assume that
He took our Lord in mind to Jerusalem
and the temple, saying, IF you will go
to the pinnacle of the temple and cast
yourself down. it will be a means of
proving to the people that YOU are
the Son of God, and it will be the
quickest method by which you can
gain their adherence and loyalty and
thus accomplish your mission.
Il will quote you the prophecy in
proof that this was Gods intention for
you: He shall give His angels charge
concerning Thee, and in their hands
they shall bear Thee up lest Thou dash
Thy foot against a stone Cps. xci, 12)
But Jesus declined this proposition
also. II He had been thrust off the
angry mob before His time was come.
surely the Fathers power would have
interfered that He should not be injur
ed; but TO deliberately defy the laws of
nature and to expect Divine protection
from the natural consequences of His
own course would have been to tempt
God; this Jesus refused to do"
The third temptation also was
mental presentation. a high mountain.
in symbol, is high kingdom From
no mountain on earth could all the
Kingdoms of the world be seen, but
Satan's own kingdom was called to the
attention of Jesus. Satan said, You
realize, of course, that | am the Prince
of this world, and that L now have
practical control. through ignorance
and superstition of the masses.
have a proposition to make to you. |
confess that | am weary of the reign
of sin and death which has progressed
in the world because of my domino
ton. I would rather share the king
dom and have it uplifted and blest. I
propose to you a federation-that we
shall mite in The bringing of huElani-
ty out of sin and death conditions.
Our Lord was indignant that ii
should be thought for moment that,
ha wing left the heavenly glory to do
the Fathers will, He should now prove
traitor to His covenant. and for fear
of the cross and the shame and the
dec tn lie should enter a confederacy |
with the great arch-enemy of righte- |
He answered, Get |
thee hence. Satan. for it is written, |
Thou shalt worship the Lord. thy God, |
AMI Him only shalt thou serve ] will !
not serve you nor cooperate with you
in any sense of the word Then the |
Devil leareth Him" We are also to |
resist the Adversary eourageously that |
lie may leave us. seeing no hope of |
us.