Tempting, but no.

Twice in the past week I ran into what was, for me, a new teaching/thinking on temptation. I've never thought too much on temptation so no surprise to hit something new; but coming up twice? C'mon.

I think my naive view has been "flee from it" or "lead us not into". Mostly, dwelling on it is like dwelling on sin; I know, I suck; I get it. Temptation has power because the immediate returns seem so pleasant. A daily struggle that I wish wasn't. 
James 1:14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.

(1 Tim 1:15) Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.


In the morning devotional with my Becky, we hit Oswald Chambers saying you can be tempted in two ways (he referenced James). Satan outright tempting you with something new, and you being tempted by your past. This hit with a sense of an external and internal view; maybe more of a future/past facet.  Interesting.


Then a sermon from Father Thomas Mackenzie out of Nashville was focusing on Jesus in the wilderness being tempted by things that are not outright evil. How is making bread, a bad thing?  Jesus later turns water into wine, more bread from small bread; how is stones into bread an evil temptation? 

The temptation wasn't really the bread, it was to reclaim power.  It was temptation to ignore the plan of the Father.
Hebrews 2:18
Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.



I think Oswald set me up to really hear T-Mac.  Mostly that we are not alone in our temptation trying to struggle it out, gut it out, strength it out....  Go further though.  It's not that Jesus wants to fight by our side, he wants to fight for us; and he has already won the victory.

Just a quick deep thought.  Back to grindstone.