Temptation

 

In France they reformulated the part of Our Father that says

"lead us not into temptation"

into "do not let us get into temptation" 

which is more precise, as it is never God who leads us into 

temptation, but the adversary.

One of the biggest temptations and mistakes we make is to 

trust in people.

 

Trust is fundamental in all relationships, but in the relationship

with God it is the deciding factor. 

Do I trust in Him or not,

do I trust a little or hesitantly?

 

BELIEF and TRUST are totally intertwined.

Truly Believing and and truly Trusting allows surrender to take 

place, to dare to let go of ourselves; our minds, and to trust God 

with everything. 

Acts of surrender requires courage.  

We should always resist the temptation to put our trust in the 

words of any person, remembering that our words are products 

of our thoughts, and the thoughts of man are not the same as  

the thoughts of God.

 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are 

your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.“

 (Isaiah 55:8)

Still today people put their full trust in the powers of the world; 

in their governments and all other authority. Unquestioningly 

they submit to them, even when things might seem absurd, they do 

not even really question anything that comes from worldly authority.

They don't believe or trust in God, they believe in their corrupt 

presidents and premier ministers and in their equally fearful and 

confused friends, colleagues and family. 

They even put their trust in film stars, famous artists and actors 

who often only got the top due to them selling their souls.

 

Jesus told us to do the exact opposite; not to try and save ourselves,

He said that to try and save our bodies at the expense of our souls 

will lead to damnation, He said to take up our cross and do like Him, 

not to defend ourselves, even if it leads to us losing our physical life,

which in any case, we are going to lose sooner or later. 

 

When things are really bad, it can be hard to still trust in God;

even Jesus Himself cried out to His Father on the Cross:

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani " -- which means, 

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

 

While in the desert, the devil tempted Jesus with all

worldly riches and power, the devil mocked Him as well saying

that if He really was the one He said He was; the Son of God, 

He would surely be able to save Himself even if He threw 

himself off a cliff.

 

"5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the 

highest point of the temple. 6“If you are the Son of God,” he said, 

“throw yourself down. For it is written:

“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,

and they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ^c ”

7Jesus answered him : 

“It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’."

 

The last sentence refers to presumption and arrogance, 

taking things for granted, not living surrendered to God.

We have to be ready to suffer, when it comes our way.

We will have the resource to endure whatever it is; because

Jesus, living God, is our strength, He is very close, 

He is inside us.