Tentação
A tentação faz parte da jornada cristã, mas Deus é fiel e não permite que sejamos tentados além do que podemos suportar. Em Cristo, temos poder para resistir e vencer.
A realidade da tentação
Jesus foi tentado em tudo como nós e compreende nossas lutas. A Bíblia nos ensina que a tentação não é pecado — o pecado está em ceder a ela.
For we have not a bishop, that may not have compassion on our infirmities, but was tempted by all things by likeness, without sin.
forty days, and was tempted of the devil, and [he] ate nothing in those days; and when those days were ended, he hungered.
No man when he is tempted, say, that he is tempted of God; for why God is not a tempter of evil things, for he tempteth no man.
witting that the proving of your faith worketh patience;
O escape providenciado
Deus sempre providencia uma saída. Não precisamos cair, pois Ele nos dá forças para resistir e promete nos livrar da provação.
Temptation take not you, but man’s temptation; for God is true, which shall not suffer you to be tempted above that that ye may; but he shall make with temptation also purveyance, that ye may suffer [or sustain].
For the Lord knoweth how to deliver pious men from temptation, and keep wicked men into the day of doom, to be tormented;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my wailing is not hid from thee.
Vigilância e resistência
A Palavra de Deus, a oração e a vigilância são nossas armas contra a tentação. Vigiar e orar é o conselho do próprio Jesus.
Wake ye, and pray ye, that ye enter not into temptation; for the spirit is ready, but the flesh is sick, [or unstable, or unsteadfast].
But he that is sown in thorns, is this that heareth the word, and the busyness of this world, and the fallacy [or the falseness] of riches strangleth the word, and it is made without fruit.
But he said, The things that go out of a man, those defoul a man.
For from within, of the heart of men come forth evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, manslayings,
thefts, avarices, [or covetousness, or over-hard keeping of goods], wickednesses, guile, unchastity, evil eye, blasphemies, pride, folly.
All these evils come forth from within, and defoul a man.
Brethren, if a man be occupied in any guilt [or overcome in any trespass], ye that be spiritual, inform ye [or teach] such one in spirit of softness, [or meekness], beholding thyself, lest that thou be tempted, [falling in the same wise].
either go on coals, and his feet be not burnt?
Blessed is the man, that suffereth temptation; for when he shall be proved, he shall receive the crown of life, which God promised to men that love him.