Jesus Dies for Our Sins

DAILY READING

Romans 4:2-25

REFLECTION

The Face of Temptation

by Mary McGinnis

This week’s Daily Worship has been centered on the 6^th and 7^th Petitions of the Lord’s prayer, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

If you were to describe temptation, what words would you use to describe it?  Even more, if you were to look temptation right in the face, what would it look like? 

Let’s look at today’s passage in Romans 4 where it says, “'For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’”

You might be thinking, “What does that have to do with temptation?”

I believe that sin, at its root, is breaking our trust with God.  Temptation then is anything that leads us to NOT TRUST God, our creator and redeemer.

Romans 4:18 says, “In hope he (Abraham) believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, ‘So shall your offspring be.’”

Yet Abraham took things into his own hands, trying to fulfil what God had promised, by lying with Hagar, and having a child with her.

Here are some of the lies that could have fueled this temptation, and ultimately Abraham’s sin.

Lie – I have heard God’s call, but I don’t see Him coming through.  I must take things into my own hands and make it happen.

Lie – God can’t fully be trusted to keep His promises.

Lie – Maybe I am just too far gone for God.  He has given up on me, after all, my body is as good as dead.  I am a failure.

Yet, this passage in Romans tells us that God is even bigger than our temptations.  He can deliver us EVEN from the evil thoughts of distrust.  

In spite of temptations, Abraham's faith and trust in God grew! 

“No unbelief made him (Abraham) waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:20

Finally, what do we do when we are faced with what seems like impossible situations?  How do we resist the temptation of distrusting God, looking fear and the lies of the enemy right in the face and resist them?  How do we remain grounded in the foundation of the sure hope that God’s love toward us and His promises to us will never fail?

Look to the evidence!  How has God shown us that He CAN BE TRUSTED?

Anytime we depend upon ourselves to be good enough, as if we can EARN it and God then OWES us His favor, we will ALWAYS have reason to doubt!  How will we ever know if we are good enough? 

Instead, look to and trust in Him who gave His ONLY Son for us! This gift was freely given, without expectation, and while we were still God’s enemies.

“That is why his faith was ‘counted to him as righteousness.’ But the words ‘it was counted to him’ were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”  Romans 4:23-25

 

Lord, please help us in our times of being tempted to not trust You.  You indeed never tempt us, but our own sinful nature often leads us to take things into our own hands.  We often listen to the world that says, we must do it ourselves.  We listen to the lies of Satan who lures us to think You cannot be trusted.  Deliver us from the evil among us, around us and within us.  Thank you that Your death and resurrection provided full payment for all my wrongs, and I can confidently walk in faith and trust in You. Whatever temptations and trails come, fill me with Your Holy Spirit's resurrection power, convinced that You, God, will do ALL You have promised.

Prayer Practice

Breath Prayer – Take 2-3 minutes today to pray a simple breath prayer. Get somewhere quiet and relaxing. Breathe in deeply, and then breathe out fully. As you breathe in, ask God to fill you with His presence, grace, love, peace, etc. Consider using the list of spiritual fruit in Galatians 5:22-23. As you breathe out, offer to God the things you need Him to take from you – sin, doubt, shame, anxiety, fear, etc. Pray this way for just a few minutes, trusting God to work, and then begin reading today’s Scripture.