Moment of Meditation: Temptation (Mark 14:38)

Original Broadcast: May 2009

Monthly Theme: The Lord's Prayer

[Jesus said:] "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.
The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
(Mark 14:38)

Temptation

Temptation is all around us. For many, temptation lurks around every corner. We pray that God will "lead us not into temptation." We understand Jesus' words to the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

The new man in each baptized Christian wishes to do God's will, but the old man of sin that still clings to us wants to do our own thing. Our sinful nature wants to yield to every temptation that appeals to us. After all, that's why temptations are so hard to beat. They're very appealing.

The only way to defeat temptation and not yield to it is through prayer. Even the disciples had to find this out when one demon simply refused to be cast out by them. Jesus responded, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer" (Mark 9:29). Your temptations are uniquely your own, but the same solution works for everyone--pray about them. Jesus will help strengthen your spirit by the working of the Holy Spirit. Amen.