August 15

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41.

God's temptations are intended only for our welfare; they are a test, which is to strengthen our faith and make us strong to fight against evil. Abraham was tempted in this way when God told him to take his son Isaac and offer him for a burnt offering. Philip was tried in the same way when Christ asked him where they would buy enough bread to feed five thousand men besides women and children. Job was sorely tempted, but also for the same purpose. The temptations with which Christians are afflicted are fiery trials, by which God tries them in order to purify their

faith. Then they learn: "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." Temptation is necessary. As the body is exercised and strengthened, as the mind is trained and developed, so the soul is disciplined and strengthened through temptation. Temptation is a course of training prescribed by God, our heavenly Physician, for the development of our spiritual life. The temptations, then, that come from God are not for evil, but for good; He tests us to benefit our soul.

Why, then, do we pray to God: "And lead us not into temptation"? "We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us nor seduce us into misbelief, despair, and other great shame and vice; and though we be assailed by them, that still we may finally overcome and obtain the victory." That is the reason why the Lord did not end His prayer with the Fifth Petition. When the old sins are forgiven and our hearts are full of joy, there is still more for which we must pray. For in this life we are beset by the enemies of our soul, the devil, the world, and our flesh. They do not want us to rejoice in God, our Savior; they desire to have us serve sin and not God. Therefore we must fight the good fight of faith; we must strive with mighty foes. Shall we stand firm in this strife? We ask the Lord, "Lead us not into temptation." We beseech Him to give us strength to overcome and finally to obtain the victory.

Prayer.

Almighty God, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright, grant us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations. Keep us through the power of the Holy Spirit that we may firmly and steadfastly resist the enemies we have renounced, the devil, the world, sin, and our own flesh, and obtain the victory over all of them. Hear us, O Father of mercies, that we may yield Thee praise and thanks forevermore, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply. The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.