It was His meat and drink to do the will of Him that sent Him-and yet He was tempted! Your hearts may glow with an angelic flame of love for Jesus, and yet the devil will try to bring you down to lukewarm uselessness.
Christ was consecrated through and through. The utmost consecration of spirit will not insure you against satanic temptation. Do not suppose that it is only the worldly-minded who have dreadful thoughts and blasphemous temptations, for even spiritually minded persons endure the same and in the holiest position we may suffer the darkest temptation. Solitude has its charms and its benefits and may be useful in checking the lust of the eye and the pride of life but the devil will follow us into the most lovely retreats. Jesus Christ was led away from human society into the wilderness and was tempted by the devil.
In the haunts of men we expect to be tempted, but even seclusion will not guard us from the same trial. Though you become greatly sanctified by the Holy Spirit, expect that the great dog of hell will bark at you still. Now, if the devil goes on striking when there is no result, how much more will he do it when he knows what inflammable stuff our hearts are made of. When Satan tempts us, his sparks fall upon tinder but in Christ’s case, it was like striking sparks on water yet the enemy continued his evil work. A holy character does not prevent temptation-Jesus was tempted.
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