The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-29
BY William e. GilrOy, ID. d.,

Editor The Congregationalist
Concerning the speculative details
Of this lesson we need waste no time.
Those who are interested in mo tiers
Of obscurity and controversy no
doubt will question just how Jesus
was led into the wilderness to be
Jempted, and the part the temptation
played in the plans and purposes
of God. People of this type have
spent a great deal of time question
ing and discussing the passage in
the Lords prayer, Lead us not into
temptation"
But people of plain practical mind,
for whom we are writing, whose deep
interest in the study of Scripture is
not in speculation, but in the dis
covery and appreciation of truth that
will help them to strengthen their
characters and live better lives, will
mot be unduly concerned about the
speculative aspects of temptation
either as it applies to ourselves or
as it was experienced by Jesus.
Temptation is real enough for us
all; 1T assails us in the most I'M
expected times, places and ways, and
1T is profound comfort and salts
faction to know that temptation in
itself is not a mark of sin, that saints
and prophets have known it's mean
ing and it's fierceness, and that the
Son of God himself in his human life
was tempted like as we are.
Danger in High Calling
Perhaps it may help us realize that
the temptation of Jesus was Incl
dental to His mission. Every high
and holy calling has it's inherent
difficulties and dangers. The con-
seriousness that made Jesus a world
savior made possible in Him the lure
of worldly ambition, the temptation
to become a master of the kingdoms
of the world rather than the Lord
of the kingdom Of spiritual life.
Moreover, the temptations that
assailed Jesus are the temptations
that come to strong and able men,
the temptations to substitute per-
sonal will for Gods will, and to
make ones own ambitions, plans and
purposes the goal of life instead of
the kingdom of God and His right
eousness.
The tragedies of life are not found
entirely among the weak, incompe-
tent and inexperienced; it would be
found rather that the worst TRACE
dies of life have been in the down
fall of great men and in the misdi-
rection of their lives and energies.
Saul, called to a kingdom under
Magnificent conditions of oppor-
'tunity, wastes his power in ignoble
jealousy and vain ambition. Napo-
leon, with the mastery of empire in
his blood, yields to the things that
Jesus renowned only to find himself
not given the kingdoms of the world
but broken exile on a narrow island
prison.
Triumph OF Jesus
The way to overcome temptation
is clearly revealed to us in the tri-
umph of Jesus. One may dwell upon
the details of that conquest, the
faith of Jesus in the Scriptures, the
wisdom of his religious outlook, the
power of seeing clearly the nature
of the temporary allurement of self
ishness. But the fact is that all
these are lost in consideration Of the
one great power that enables Jesus
to conquer in the midst of tempta-
ton.
There Is no power that can guar
antee our victory over temptation
but that power of self-mastery
through self-surrender to God-the
self-surrender that makes it posi-
BILE for God to reveal his power in
our weakness.
1t is a happy and wise thought
that links Paul's words concerning
temptation with the account of the
temptation of Jesus. With Pauls
clear warning against having a
false confidence in ones strength, he
indicates the sure way in which the
soul may find entertainment.
If we had to fight in our own
power there would be much excuse
for our failure, but we should ever
remember that God is the friend of
Ahe tempted and tried. His power
DAxists to save us from sin and up
build our lives in righteousness and
truth.