The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1917-03-02

A ence.
- 49, Now the best
way to understand a Biblical term is
to study the way in which it is used
in the Bible So we may arrive at the
meaning of temptation by study OF
the word in the New Testament.
In the ninth chapter of the Acts, the
twenty-sixth 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 disciple" This ref
erence is to Paul after his conversion.
The word translated "assayed" is our
word tempted" Here 1t 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 means to try in the sense
of testing to ascertain the quality; as
for example, met(ls 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 succor them that are
tempted" (Heb. 2:1S.) That is, our
Lords steadfastness or moral quality
was tried; it stood the test and be-
cause 1t 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, 1t by no means COM
prehends all there is in the experience
of temptation. We, therefore, con-
clude from our study that anything
which tries or proves one as to his
character, his faith, his steadfastness,
whether it be testing under trial or
a solicitation to do evil, Is a tempta-
ton.
1t will help us further IL we consid-
er some Of the forms temptation may
take.
Paul in his epistle to the Galatians
(4:14) speaks of his temptation in the
flesh. Whatever that was, it was some
sort Of serious bodily ailment, 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
a child of God to rejoice? No doubt
about the fact that physical ailment
tests Christian character, but where
does rejoicing come in? Let us revert
again to Paul, who tells US he be-
sought the Lord thrice to remove his
thorn in the flesh. God instead Of do
ing it, 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
sufficiency Of Gods grace.
Only today I met a friend who had
been sick. He said to me: when I
was sick I had the best time I ever
had in my life. 1 was so happy; the
Lord was very near and precious" He,
you see, was rejoicing because he ex-
perienced what many q suffering child
has-the nearness and preciousness Of
God.
Outward circumstances like the fiery
trials Peter speaks Of Il Peter 4:12)
may be the temptation Of some,
but few in these days suffer severe
persecution; but how many do know
what real adversely and affection are,
the loss of loved one, position. prop
erty? How can they rejoice? But
they do, as know. I have seen them
smiling through the tears; I have
heard them say: BLESS God, it's all
right" And as they drew a fresh
supply from the fountain of his grace,
I have heard them sing with new
meaning and power, Praise God from
whom all blessings flow" One whom
1 knew well, who suffered more Sc
verely than most men, said to me,
when I offered my sympathy: eff I
had my choice of freedom or trial such
as 1 have passed through, knowing
what I now do Of God and his grace, I
WOULD CllOOS6 ITldl. NE, lOO, yOu See,
rejoiced in that he had fallen into
temptation and his testimony makes
the reason for his rejoicing obvious.
There are, indeed, some paths we must
travel if we are to know God.
How many of US think Of prosperity
as temptation? Yet the word says:
.'They that will be rich, fall into temp
tation." I sometimes think that moth
ing so tests Christian character as
prosperity. Many a Christian has ship
wrecked his life spiritually on pros
perity's rock. He prospered and then
he forgot God; he forgot the Bible; he
forgot to pray; he forgot the church ;
and today, though wealthy, he is a
spiritual derelict.
Well, you say, II could rejoice in
the temptation of riches if could in
no other" l can understand your say
ing that, for we all desire at least to
prosper But, oh, the danger in pros
perity Of leaving God out of our life.
Beware! Prosperity is not an easy
temptation. So fearful was Christ that
his people would not endure it that he
warned them, saying: How hardly
shall they that have riches enter into
tho KINGDOM Of Cod"