Trials of Temptations

Jesus was tempted by the devil. And it was the Holy Spirit that led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted (Luke 4:1). The same Father who expressed His pleasure in the Son also arranged for this time of testing. God is sovereign, so the temptation was part of the plan.

We also know that the apostle James said God doesn’t tempt anyone.

Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. (James 1:13)

This refers to desire inside us. God does not desire evil, God does not cause anyone to desire evil.

This does not refer to trials around us. God does desire faith, God does desire steadfastness under trials, God does desire our testing. So He does put us in positions to be tempted.

In James 1:2 the word “trials” (“count it all joy…when you meet trials”) is the noun form of the same word in verb form in 1:13 for “tempted.” God does not cause us to desire sin, but He does arrange to test our desire for Him more than our desire for sin. Trials are a test of what we’ll do with our temptations.

As Jesus said about us, “out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorally, theft, false witness, slander” (Matthew 15:19). God doesn’t make our hearts evil, but His Word gives a mirror so we can locate the problem and He is faithful to provide a “way of escape” so that we avoid a fall (1 Corinthians 10:12-13).

But don’t blame God, and don’t give in to the enticements of your own disordered desires.