Word of Encouragement (9/29/2020)

For the next several days, let us reflect on various truths to remember in times of temptation.

“1. When you are tempted to commit a sin, remember the covenant! In it, God has bound Himself to you. This is a great comfort because the covenant of grace includes all of God’s promises. It is a bundle of great and precious promises, which all begin, ‘I will give you….” Can you knowingly and willingly sin against such grace?

“2. But remember, just as God has bound Himself to you, you have pledged yourself to Him. This covenant bond should therefore be a curb to committing any sin. When tempted, you should say: ‘No; I must not lie, swear, or break the Lord’s Day; for it is against my bargain. On such a Lord’s Day, in such a congregation, before such and such witnesses, I took the sacrament of baptism and pledged that by the grace of my Lord I would sin no more.’

“3. When a child of God wrestles with Satan in temptation or lust, he may challenge the covenant of God’s hands, and say: “Lord, have you not said that you will deliver me out of the hands of all my enemies? Is it not a part of your covenant?’

“4. When you are tempted to sin and sincerely desire to be delivered from it, call on the Lord to deliver you according to His promise in 2 Peter 2:9, ‘…the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials,’ and His promise in Psalm 91:3, ‘For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.’ Memorize these verses and repeat them before God when you are tempted. Ask God to make good on His Word. In this way, these promises will be wings by which you may fly away from the tempest (Ps. 55:4-8).

“5. Whenever you face temptation, consider Christ. Consider that He was tempted as you are and can sympathize with your struggle (Heb. 4:15). Consider that His suffering for you in temptation enables Him to help you in your temptation (Heb. 2:18), and that He is your victorious Captain and is not ashamed to call you brethren (Heb. 2:11). Consider that He has overcome the devil in your flesh, and that the victory of the Head is the victory of His members (Heb. 2:10). Consider that He will not suffer any to perish whom the Father has entrusted to His eternal care (John 6:37-40); that He makes intercession for you, praying specifically for you in your temptation (Luke 22:32; John 17:9a, 15); and that His intercession is the effectual prayer of a Righteous Man (James 5:16), by which He is able to save you to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25).”

I’m sure many of you know from experience that these truths, as wonderful as they are, are hard to remember when you “cross the line” and slip into temptation. It is important, therefore, to be well-versed in these promises when we are not fighting off temptations so that, when temptations come our way, we can “nip it at the bud.”

Have a blessed and victorious day!