Temptations

Luke 22:46 “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” This isn't the first time Jesus tells me to pray that I won't fall into temptation. In Matthew 6, in the Lord's prayer He tells the same thing. The difference is that there, the disciples were new to following Jesus. Now they have been with Him three years. Right there with Him. They have now grown and seen miracles. They have seen His power working in them to heal and cast out demons. They are “mature” followers of Jesus. So, if they need to be reminded to pray not to enter into temptation so do I. I need to pray just as they are told to pray.

Staying awake, how many times has Jesus said this in parables or elsewhere (10)? Part of being awake is remembering to pray and praying not to enter into temptation. By the way it is not resisting temptation but praying to not even being tempted. Help me, Lord!

Luke 22:54-55 54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.

Peter is about to fail the temptation. Here is what I see happening to Peter and to myself when I haven’t been praying to keep from falling into temptation.

1.      Peter had already been warned back in Luke 22:34 that he was going to deny Jesus. He didn’t take it seriously at the time. That could be me when I ignore the Word.

2.      Peter followed Jesus at a distance. He didn’t want to get too close to Jesus. He had already taken a step toward disowning Jesus. I need to abide in Jesus. If I don’t, I’ll also follow at a distance. Jesus won’t be real to me. I’ll have a weakened desire to follow Jesus and be obedient to Him.

3.      Peter sat down with them and warmed himself. His desire to satisfy his physical need overcame his caution of mingling with the enemy. I can seek to comfort myself by indulging in the benefits of the world. When I do, I’m right in the midst of temptation.

4.      Peter denied Jesus two times. He didn’t remember Jesus’ warning. When I’m playing footsie with the world, seeing how close I can come without actually yielding to the sin, I will sin and not realize what I’m doing because my conscience has been dulled as described in the previous three points.

5.      Peter heard the rooster crow after his third denial. He went out and wept bitterly. This is good news. When I truly repent of my sin and it hurts me the way it hurt Peter, I’m on the road to forgiveness, restoration, and not repeating the sin.

Help me, Lord, to not go down this path but to be awake and alert, praying to not fall into temptation.