The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-02-22

Now the best
way to understand a Biblical term is
to study the way In which 1t Is used
In the Bible. So we may arrive at the
meaning of temptation by n study of
the word In the New Testament.
In the ninth chapter Of the Acts, the
t~wenty-slxth verse, we read: "And
when he was come to Jerusalem. he
assayed to Join himself to the disciples
and they were all afraid of him, not
believing he was n disciple" This ref
erence is to Paul after his conversion.
The word translated "assayed' Is our
word tempted" Here It means that
Paul endeavored or tried to Join him
self to the disciples.
Turning to the Revelation, chapter
two, verse two, we read: "Thou hast
tried them that say they are apostles
and are not and found them liars"
This time our word is translated
tried" and mean to try In the sense
of testing to ascertain the quality; rs
for example, metals are tried. In this
same sense the word Is used Of our
Lord when We read: "For In that he
himself hath suffered being tempted,
he Is able to succo them that are
tempted" (Heb. 2:1S.) That is, our
Lords steadfastness or moral quality
was tried; It stood the test and be-
cause II did, he is able to deliver the
tempted.
Christ's experience in the wilderness
helps us to understand that tempta-
ton may be an endeavor to draw one
away from virtue by suggestion to sin.
This is probably the common idea Of
the word. Yet, II by no means com
prehends all there is In the experience
of temptation. We, therefore, con
clude from u study that anything
which tries or proves one as to his
character. his faith, his steadfastness,
whether 1t be a testing under trial or
a solicitation to do evil, is q tempta-
ton.
1t will help us further II we consid-
er some Of the forms temptation may
take.
Paul In his epistle to the Galatians
t4:14) speaks of his temptation in the
flesh. Whatever that was, It was some
sort Of a serious bodily allment, for In
the verse preceding he says: Through
infirmity Of the flesh I preached the
gospel unto you." Well, we say, what
Is there in physical suffering to cause
n child Of God to rejoice? No doubt
about the fact that q physical ailment
tests Christian character, but where
does rejoicing come int Let us revert
again to Paul. who tells us he be-
the Lord thrice to remove his
thorn In the flesh. God instead Of do
Ing 1t, said: MY grace Is sufficient
for thee" And Paul by physical suf-
fering, learned what he could not learn
In any other way, the sweetness and
of Gods grace.
Only today I met q friend who had
been sick. He said to me-: "When l
was sick / had the best time / ever
had In my life. / was so happy; the
Lord was very near and precious" He,
you see, was rejoicing because he ex-
perienced what many n suffering child
has-the nearness and preclousness Of
God.
Outward circumstances like the fiery
Peter speaks Of Il Peter Alp
nay be the temptation of some,
few In these days suffer severe
persecution; but how many do know
what real adversely and afllction are,
he loss Of a loved one, position, prop
How can they rejoice7 But
hey do, as l know. I have seer them
through the tears; I have
heard them say: "Bless God, it's all
And rs they drew a fresh
iupply from the fountain Of his grace,
have heard them sing with new
meaning and power, "Praise God from
whom all blessings flow." One whom
knew well, who suffered more Sc
'erely than most men, said to me,
When I offered my sympathy: "If /
lad my choice of freedom or trial such
s / have passed through, knowing
What / now do of God and his grace, I
would choose trial." He, too, you see,
in that he had fallen into
emptation and his testimony makes
he reason for his rejoicing obvious.
here are, indeed, some paths we must
ravel IL we are to know God.
How many of us think Of prosperity
$ temptation? Yet the word says:
They that will be rich, fall into temp
l sometimes think that moth
lg so tests Christian character as
rosperity. Many n Christian has ship
his life spiritually on pros
rock. He prospered and then
e forgot God he forgot the Bible he
'rgot to pray; he forgot the church;
nd today, though wealthy, he is n
derelict.
Well, you say, II could rejoice In
lie temptation O. riches II | could In
0 other" / can understand your say
'g that, for we all desire at least to
But, oh, the danger In pros
Gritty Of leaving God out Of u life.
ewarel Prosperity is not an easy
'mptatlon. SO fearful was Christ that
IS people would not endure 1t that he y
armed them, saying: How hardly Y