A question came up in me the other day. What is the difference between a test and a temptation? So after spinning around and around on that thought I came to… why does it matter?
First off lets figure out the difference between a test and a temptation.
Temptation is the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise.
- A temptation is from the devil. Plan and simple.
James 1:13-18 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
- Temptation can be resisted
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.
James 4:7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Hebrew 2:18 For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
3. Temptation is meant to pull you away from God and to give in to sin.
Ephesians 2:1-2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
A test is a procedure intended to establish the quality, performance or reliability of something.
- A test is from God
Genesis 22: 1 Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called.
Job 1:12 “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.
1 Peter 1:6-8 These tests have come to prove your faith and to show that it is good. Gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire. Your faith is worth much more than gold and it must be tested also. Then your faith will bring thanks and shining-greatness and honor to Jesus Christ when He comes again. 8 You have never seen Him but you love Him. You cannot see Him now but you are putting your trust in Him. And you have joy so great that words cannot tell about it. (NLV)
- Jesus wants us to succeed in all our tests.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Galatians 6:9: And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
James 1:3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
- A test is meant to draw us closer to God. It is a situation that He allows in our life meant to reveal our loyalties, motivations, character, and commitment to Him and helping to purify, strengthen, and mature us. If successfully passed, a test also glorifies God. (https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/temptation-and-testing/)
Some times in life there is a situation that is neither evil or God driven. Just an occurrence. A scenario if you will. Life just happens (1Peter 1:6-7). You back out of a parking space. And someone accidentally hits you. You looked, but didn’t see anything. They looked, but didn’t see anything, and bam! You collided. Is it a test? Is this a moment of temptation? Well… that is entirely up to you. The scenario is not evil or divine in nature. It is an event that just happened. Mind you, Jesus cares about every detail in your life, but not every minor incident is some cosmic circumstance playing out on the stage of your existence.
Don’t get me wrong, the devil is out there trying to destroy lives and Jesus is out there protecting and ordering your steps (Psalms 37:23). There are moments in life that truly shape who you are and your destiny, this particular situation, is not that. Sometimes things just happen. The test or temptation is all depending on you. What is your response to this occurrence. Do you begin to scream and yell at the other driver? Is this what you are tempted to do? Or do you pass the test in front of you and humbly ask if everyone is alright and exchange information without incident. More than anything we have got to stop and think. Take a breathe. Some of us are impulsive by nature. This is when being in the Word, praying, seeking God- these habits can come to the rescue. These activities train our mind to slow down so we don’t knee jerk react to every kind of stimuli. Take a moment to slow down and respond to the situation in front of you with God’s Grace.
Sometimes we won’t know what the scenario is until it plays out. But response to a circumstance depends on you. Your reaction. Sometimes you will fail the test and then you see, oh yeah, I just got tempted. I lost my cool and responded in the flesh (Romans 7:5). I was not walking in the spirit on that one (Galatians 5:16). We are human. (Romans 3:23)
And sometimes we are going to miss the mark. Quickly pray and ask for forgiveness. (1 John 1:9) Ask the person you yelled at for forgiveness. Ask God to forgive you. Then we move on.
From Glory to Glory (2 Corinthians 3:18) .
We stub our toe sometimes.
But Jesus heals. Jesus forgives.
So the next question. Why does it matter if it’s a test or a temptation? For me, I want to know in my heart that I’m growing. A test is like taking the pulse on your walk with Christ. Sometimes I find it hard to see the fruit of the changes God is making in my heart. I want to feel some wins. Sometimes you are hard at work, focused on Christ and want to know you have changed. But the only way to see that change is if you will be tempted or will you pass the test.
One afternoon, I was happy as a clam and this driver did not pull out of her parking space fast enough for my liking and out of clear blue, I honked at her? What? I was listening to CeCe and jamming out and out of clear nowhere I honked at her! Where did that come from? That was not polite! Where did my patience go? It just those types of reminders during the day that lets you know, You have a little ways to go. You haven’t “arrived” to perfect peace and patience. Spoiler Alert- You will never "arrive". Perfect peace and patience is a life long journey.
Did you give into temptation? OK well, I need to work on that. Pray about that situation, ask forgiveness, meditate on scriptures.
Did you pass the test? OK,you are looking good, you are in a good healthy place in your walk.
The only way we grow are these circumstances in life, how they present themselves, and how do I respond.
In the end ask yourself this question when faced with a stressful event:
What will most honor Him in this situation in front of me now?
IF you take heed and respond by the spirit to your own question.
Then… you have passed the test.
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