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Question: I struggle to do the right thing, but it seems I often do the wrong thing. Why does God tempt us to sin?
God does not tempt us. That is one of Satan's specialties. God does test us at times, but he does not tempt us. What's the difference? Tempting is trying to get a person to do something wrong. A trial (or test) is a situation in which God gives a person an opportunity
to do something right. God never tries to trip us up, but he does allow tough circumstances to build our character and spiritual maturity. On occasion God may test us by putting us directly into Satan's line of fire. God doesn't test us so that we may fall into sin. He tests
us so that we might be victorious. As far as your struggle to do the right thing, we all struggle there. You are not alone. Even the Apostle Paul faced this struggle. Romans 7:7-25 Make up your mind that you will not be tempted by sin, and then do the best you can. Ask God for forgiveness when you fail.
Relavant Scripture
At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with wild animals, and angels attended him. Mark 1:12,13
Also see: Matthew 4:1-11 & Luke 4:1-13
God bless,
Wayne
6
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2 comments:
Your ascertainment that God is tempting you is unscriptural.
Jas 1:12-16
(12) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
(13) Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
(14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
(15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
(16) Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Elder B
www.kevinbritton.org
Thank you, Elder B, for posting exactly what I was going to post. James is one of my favorite books of the Bible and makes it very clear that temptation comes from Satan and we enter into it through our own desires.
The best way to combat this is to line up our desires with what God desires. Essentially, we begin to love righteousness and hate evil (including temptation). That doesn't mean it won't be difficult, but it does mean we will be better equipped to identify and respond to the temptations because, as James goes on to say, we will become hearers AND doers of the word.
-Aaron
How to Make Your Life About God
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