PEIRASMOS

PEIRASMOS

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Strong’s G3986: πειρασμός; peirasmos; pi-ras-mos'. From G3985; a putting to proof (by experiment [of good], experience [of evil], solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication adversity: - temptation, X try.

Matthew 6:9-13 … Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into [peirasmos], but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

1Corinthians 10:13  There hath no [peirasmos] taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the [peirasmos] also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Hebrews 4:14-16  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

  Thanks to Adam we are surrounded by multifaceted adverse condition, and donate to therein!

  Anxiety weighed heavily in my life decades ago. I didn’t much experience the deliverance Jesus provided and Paul explained. (Jn.8:36;14:27;16:33. 2Cor.1:1-10; Phil.4:4-13)  An early long stride away from angst was to trust the truth of the Word saying I was not a person facing uncommon adversity.

  Another factor somewhere along my lifeline was observation shared by a Christian mentor: There are categories of people when it comes to adversity.

·         Some don’t handle adversity very well at all.

·         Some love adversity. They are greatly stimulated by it. They often join situations involving adversity. They have difficulty with extended periods of peaceful relaxation. (Some of these are accused of having a death-wish when really for them it is a life-wish.)

·         Some love adversity to the point of generating it.

·         Some invest considerable effort beyond Matthew 6:13a in working hard at avoiding adversity.

·         Some accept adversity for what it is; part and parcel of living.

·         Some accept adversity for what it is and as it comes, trust in God’s Will, and thereby don’t just escape, but please their King and mature therein.

  We have been, are, and will be faced with adversity until death delivers us. Until then it is matter of our choosing as to what adversity means and results in during this life and afterward.. 

  Please now consider the stress of our Lord during His last hours on earth: “Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”  (Mt. 26:35-42)

  And then answer what is this way of escape that Paul refers to? Not knowing leaves us with no exit.

EBB4