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.
15 for we have not a chief priest unable to sympathise with our infirmities, but [one] tempted in all things in like manner -- apart from sin;
2 forty days being tempted by the Devil, and he did not eat anything in those days, and they having been ended, he afterward hungered,
13 Let no one say, being tempted -- From God I am tempted, for God is not tempted of evil, and Himself doth tempt no one,
3 knowing that the proof of your faith doth work endurance,
O escape providenciado
Deus sempre providencia uma saída. Não precisamos cair, pois Ele nos dá forças para resistir e promete nos livrar da provação.
13 No temptation hath taken you -- except human; and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able, but He will make, with the temptation, also the outlet, for your being able to bear [it].
9 The Lord hath known to rescue pious ones out of temptation, and unrighteous ones to a day of judgment, being punished, to keep,
13 And mayest Thou not lead us to temptation, but deliver us from the evil, because Thine is the reign, and the power, and the glory -- to the ages. Amen.
9 Lord, before Thee [is] all my desire, And my sighing from Thee hath not been hid.
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.
41 watch, and pray, that ye may not enter into temptation: the spirit indeed is forward, but the flesh weak.
22 And that sown toward the thorns, this is he who is hearing the word, and the anxiety of this age, and the deceitfulness of the riches, do choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20 And he said -- That which is coming out from the man, that doth defile the man;21 for from within, out of the heart of men, the evil reasonings do come forth, adulteries, whoredoms, murders,22 thefts, covetous desires, wickedness, deceit, arrogance, an evil eye, evil speaking, pride, foolishness;23 all these evils do come forth from within, and they defile the man.
1 Brethren, if a man also may be overtaken in any trespass, ye who [are] spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness, considering thyself -- lest thou also may be tempted;
28 Doth a man walk on the hot coals, And are his feet not scorched?
12 Happy the man who doth endure temptation, because, becoming approved, he shall receive the crown of the life, which the Lord did promise to those loving Him.