試煉與試探
雅各書一章12至17節
12忍受試探的人是有福的，因為他經過試驗以後，必得生命的冠冕；這是主應許給那些愛他之人的。
13人被試探，不可說：「我是被神試探」；因為神不能被惡試探，他也不試探人。
14但各人被試探，乃是被自己的私慾牽引誘惑的。
15私慾既懷了胎，就生出罪來；罪既長成，就生出死來。
16我親愛的弟兄們，不要看錯了。
17各樣美善的恩賜和各樣全備的賞賜都是從上頭來的，從眾光之父那裡降下來的；在他並沒有改變，也沒有轉動的影兒。
信息分享
試煉與試探是有分別的：試煉通常是指人生經歷的困難或苦難，是神容許臨到我們身上的，為的是磨練我們的信心，讓我們更懂得信靠神，這類的例子包括長久等待卻未蒙應允的禱告，甚或是長期患病等。
在我們經歷試煉的時候，撒但就往往抓緊機會來試探我們。例如，當我們的禱告久久未蒙應允，撒但就會對我們說：「你看，神根本不關心你，祂對你的禱告完全是充耳不聞！」這時，我們就面對撒但的試探了。
當然，撒但還會攻擊我們最弱的一環──就是我們還屬肉體時，舊本性中的各種慾望。他會想盡辦法來挑起我們的各種慾望，使我們犯罪。我們遇到試探，並不算是犯罪；可是，當我們向試探屈服，罪就生出來了。
只有撒但才會試探人；沒有人可以指控「是神使我犯罪」。神絕不會試探人。神雖然會容許我們被撒但試探，但神卻會加力給我們去勝過試探。
還記得哥林多前書十章13節的應許嗎？那裡說：「你們所遇見的試探，無非是人所能受的。神是信實的，必不叫你們受試探過於所受的；在受試探的時候，總要給你們開一條出路，叫你們能忍受得住。」
雅各亦在書信的一章17節說，神是各樣美善恩賜的父。換言之，抗拒試探的力量，也是從神而來的。神是絕對信實的，祂也永不改變，我們可以放心信靠祂。
反思：
請讀帖羅尼迦前書五章24節，並在今天默想這節經文。
TESTING AND TEMPTATION
James 1:12-17
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Message
Is there a difference between testing and temptation? Testing usually describes those occasions which God allows to come into our lives, such as a time of unanswered prayer or even prolonged suffering. They are designed to help our faith grow.
In those times of testing Satan will often come with a temptation. For example, when we are tested by unanswered prayer, Satan will say 'There you are, God doesn't care about you. He hasn't answered your prayer.' So in the testing time, there comes the temptation to doubt.
Of course Satan also works on our old nature, the flesh. He will try to arouse the desires of that old nature. It is not a sin to be tempted, but it is sin when we give in to that temptation.
Temptation comes from Satan. No-one can ever say 'God tempted me to do wrong'. God never does that. He allows us to be tempted by Satan or even by our old nature. But even while we re being tempted, God will give us strength to resist that temptation.
What does 1 Corinthians 10:13 say? 'There is no temptation taken you but such as is common to man. God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able to bear, but will with the temptation make the way of escape also that you may be able to endure it.'
James said in chapter 1, verse 17, that God is the source of every good gift. In other words the gift of strength to resist temptation comes from God. He is absolutely faithful. He never changes. You can always count on him.
A THOUGHT:
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:24 and make it your verse for today.