Trusting: Our Firewall to Temptation
Trials, Tests, and Temptations
Trust, Triumph, Testimony
Is it a Test or a Temptation?
What's the Difference?
Note: It will help to read Part 1,
before reading Part 2.
Click here for: The Six T's in Living Life Part 1
James 1:2-3
NIV:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
New KJV:
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
New RSV:
My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy,
because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance;
Note:
It is not a suggestion, but an imperative command of Jesus.
If Jesus said it, it has Divine meaning.
We do not say, "He passed the temptation" but
"he fell into temptation".
We do not say,"He fell into testing" but
"he passed the test".
A DEFINITION For a vast majority of people, issues in our lives and our reaction to those issues control our behaviors.
For the sake of these writings on the "Six T's" all situations we face in life including tragedies, troubles, adversities, opportunities both good and bad will be called trials.
How we deal with our trials in success or our defeat develops our character for future trials. Either we grow in strength of character OR we become weaker and fall into sinful behaviors.
In our everyday life, our attitude in our trials determine if these trials are just a test or become a temptation. The little trials we face daily prepare us for the big trials that greatly influence our destiny.
IS IT A TEST OR TEMPTATION
The focus in this series of writings on the Six T's of Living Life will be the Biblical implications of when a trial is a test and when is it a temptation, and how this applies to us today in creating our character.
Understanding the difference in testing and temptation is most important because of two ideas.
(1) as we read the Bible, this issue of testing and temptation can be most confusing; and
(2) the difference between the two controls our character as Christians.
In awareness of the difference we can better determine if we are building and strengthening our character in our trials or in our trials are we battling temptations that weaken us. In our battling temptations we become susceptible to falling into temptations where we slip into sinful behavior.
In this Part 2 of the Six T's the focus is on the difference between being tested and tempted, the primary focus will be the words used in the Bible in various translations.
This will
(1) bring good insight and understanding to what we read in the Bible and
(2) simplify our understanding of testing and temptations we experience in our daily lives.
Now,
What is a Temptation?
A good Biblical definition of this was provided in a previous writing, "The Six T's in Living Life Part 1" and is repeated here:
From a minister, Erik Raymond,
"A temptation, then, in general is anything that,
for any reason, exerts a force or influence
to seduce and draw the mind and heart
of man from the obedience which God requires
of him to any kind of sin."
There are several things to consider and note about temptations:
1- The source of the temptation can be from within a person or external to a person. It can be an outward event or just a thought.
2- A temptation is an attempt to draw a person away from God.
3- A temptation entices a person to sin.
Next, What is a Test?
Looking at James 1: 2-3, we can easily see that in a trial, the trial is only a "Test" if we
(1) are Joyous (yes, be joyous) in a trial,
(2) are grateful for the opportunity to show our faith, and
(3) we are strengthened in perseverance, patience, and endurance. This tells us of two very important keys to dealing with trials.
First, a trial is an opportunity to show our faith that God has put in us. This is the beginning of the proper attitude to adopt during the journey of a trial. Next, in showing our faith in God we are, above anything else, showing our Trust in God for our trial's journey. Finally, when we complete the trial's journey, in Trusting God we will have the grace and blessings of God teaching us perseverance, patience, and endurance.
In fully Trusting God,
the trial is a test and not a temptation!
But, if we turn away from God
to trusting earth bound people,
governments, ideas, or other earthly 'stuff' then
this
is when we move from testing to falling down the
slippery slope of sinful temptation!
None of this "testing" stuff is easy in our trials! But, YOU FEEL REALLY GOOD when you have trusted God and gained new perseverance, patience, and endurance as greater character comes from and through God's grace during the test!! Best of all, you come to fully realize that "Testing" results in joy for having completed the test! It would take an idiot not to enjoy the grade of 100 on an important test in school on which you diligently worked and studied. The same is true in life's trials and tests!
RESULTS OF TESTING
There can and likely will be great lows, discomforts, and depression during our trials; but in Triumphantly completing a trial, there is joy in and from the trial, a peace in having made the trip, and great encouragement for the next journey. Succeeding in our daily little trials prepare us for bigger opportunities! There is certainly joy in understanding that! I did not want to go to Vietnam, but I am now most thankful for the two trips because of (1) the greater strength I have in Trusting God through the Vietnam journey and (2) I know I can do greater things for Jesus in future trials!
But, bear with me, for this Part 2 discussion is just the tip of the iceberg. There is even more to understand in these verses based on the original wording in the Greek! This greater understanding will be found in Part 3. This understanding to enhance and encourage you to trust God in trials because of your expected gain in personal strength, growth, and character that God will provide to you- as long as you Trust Him! And, this better understanding will be covered in Part 3 of "The 6 T's of Living Life".
Remember:
The six T's in Successful Living are:
Trials, Testing, Temptation,
Trust, Triumph, Testimony
The difference between Testing and Temptation is the source of our Trust in our daily behaviors. In our trials, Trust God and Testing will not slide into Temptations.
Trusting God is our FIREWALL between
our Testing
and
our falling into Temptations!
our Testing
and
our falling into Temptations!
Thanks be to God.
© lonnie coggins
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LEARNING TO TRUST is a very important behavior and we must learn to TRUST GOD in the good times so we know how to behave and trust in the tough times. Click the link below for more on Trust and how it is a firewall between Trials and Temptation.
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http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-six-ts-in-living-life-part-2.html
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