A different "take" on temptation

In yesterday's post, I mentioned that I had an interesting devotional time Thursday morning. True. If you're a returning reader, you may remember that one of my daily devotionals is Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest.

Thursday's topic was "temptation." I'd like to share it with you, if you don't mind...

"Are you going on with Jesus?"

"You are those who have continued with Me in My trials." Luke 22:28

"It is true that Jesus Christ is with us through our temptations, but are we going on with Him through His temptations? Many of us turn back from going on with Jesus from the very moment we have an experience of what He can do. Watch when God changes your circumstances to see whether you are going on with Jesus, or siding with the world, the flesh, and the devil. We wear His name, but are we going on with Him?

"From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more." (John 6:66).

The temptation of Jesus continued throughout His earthly life, and they will continue throughout the life of the Son of God in us. Are we going on with Jesus in the life we are living right now?

We have the idea that we ought to shield ourselves from some of the things God brings around us. May it never be! It is God who engineers our circumstances, and whatever they may be we must see that we face them while continually abiding with Him in His temptations. They are His temptations, not temptations to us, but temptations to the life of the Son of God in us. Jesus Christ's honor is at stake in our bodily lives. Are we remaining faithful to the Son of God in everything that attacks His life in us?

Are you going on with Jesus? The way goes through Gethsemane, through the city gate, and on 'outside the camp' (Hebrews 13:13). The way is lonely and goes on until there is no longer even a trace of a footprint to follow -- but only the voice saying , 'Follow Me' (Matthew 4:19)."

That was a big "wow" moment for me! I had never thought about temptation quite that way before...never thought that it was actually the Spirit of Christ within me that was being tempted. And if I am truly serving Him, I need to be ever vigilant and steadfast in my resistance because it's not about me - it's all about Jesus. This one has really given me a lot to think about. Wow...