July 23

Read: I Peter 4:12-13

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you (I Peter 4:12).

Temptations Will Come

There is no state of grace this side of heaven which exempts me from temptation. This is true even after God has given me the fullness of the Holy Spirit. That is why Peter exhorts us, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.”

In our justifiable enthusiasm for what God has done for us in the work of entire sanctification, some of our preaching and testimony leaves the impression that all spiritual battle is ended when the second blessing is received. But we need to be on guard at this point. If we are taught either explicitly or by mistaken inference that carnality is the only source of the moral conflict, we are headed for trouble.

After we are sanctified we shall still find struggles-sometimes fierce ones; Peter describes them as fiery trials. If we do not anticipate some hard fighting, we shall be thrown into confusion and be tempted to believe that we did not “get the blessing.”

Our text points out that we should not be surprised at these fiery trials because they are common to all the children of God. The Amplified New Testament puts it: “Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered… as though something strange, unusual and alien to you and your position — were befalling you.” Temptations will come to the sanctified but we have a promise: “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape” (I Corinthians 10:13).

A wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Lord. He taketh my burden away. He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved. He giveth me strength as my day.

— Fanny J. Crosby