‘If you think you can stand up to temptation, be careful not to fall…’ (1 Cor. 10:12)
We all face temptation every day in life – it comes to us in many forms and guises. Sometimes we are able to see it for what it is but at other times we are not. But perhaps of more concern is how at times we seem to disregard those temptations that we deem to be small or insignificant and therefore believe that we can stand up to them in our own strength and merit. Invariably we fail to do so. Not only that, we then convince ourselves that because the temptation was small and insignificant that the resultant fall into sin was also small and of little consequence. But the thing is – sin is sin!
However, on this Ash Wednesday, at the beginning of Lent, we are reminded of how our Lord did overcome temptation and would go on to overcome sin and death. As a result of this, of we come before the Lord and acknowledge our failure to overcome temptation, then through faith we might all find life in Him. Praise be to God!