Day 7: He will provide a way out
Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted (Hebrews 2:18).
Heavenly Father, we find great comfort in Your word that we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15).
We are grateful that the Lord Jesus took on the very the nature of a servant and became human (Philippians 2:7). For because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted (Hebrews 2:18).
We are grateful for the powerful prayer He prayed for His followers as He prepared to go to the cross to sacrifice His life for us: "...My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one..." (John 17:15). He alone understands what we face, for He knew firsthand the ruthless schemes of "[our] adversary the devil" (1 Peter 5:8) who desires to "steal, kill and destroy" (John 10:10).
We are grateful for His incomparable example—His powerful lessons of relying on God in all the temptations and in all the wilderness experiences of life. We are grateful that He showed us the power and the presence of the Spirit in the wilderness. And we are grateful for the lessons in defeating the enemy by the mighty sword of the Spirit—the word of God.
Lord, there is so much we do not understand, but in this world full of trouble, You have shown us with certainty that You are God, that You are good, and that You love us. And You have given us the reassurance:
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
So today we call on the name of our great and sympathetic high priest, and pray as He taught us, "Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13 - NKJV).
Yield Not to Temptation
Ask the Savior to help you,
Comfort, strengthen, and keep you;
He is willing to aid you,
He will carry you through.
~ Horatio R. Palmer ~ 1868
