今天我們要轉為思想生命的另一個領域，那是我們很多人都渴望可以獲得豁免的──強烈和嚴厲的試探。坦白說，大部分人都希望可以遠離試探。但是試探其實有它的作用，神經常會藉著它來培養我們的品格，使我們的生命更能活出基督的形象。安東尼（Mark Antony）被稱為「羅馬的銀口演說家」，但他卻有不能抵擋試探這個致命的缺點。

不過這恐怕不只是安東尼或者未信的人的缺點，也是很多信徒的問題。我們都常要面對試探，不幸的是很多人都受制於試探的力量。「試探」（希臘語是 peirasmos）這個詞、詞根的意思是測試。而辭典則將試探定義為「為了快樂和獲益的承諾而做錯事的行動」。司蘊道（Charles Swindoll）說：「試探是以給予你好東西的承諾來促使你行為出軌。」

魔鬼不就是這樣嗎？你現在是否在面對特別嚴厲的試探呢？那麼要注意！你其實是擁有所需要的力量來對抗攻擊的。美國前總統杜魯門（Harry Struman）有一句名言，說：「如果你討厭那熱力，就遠離廚房吧。」但我從沒有發現任何人可以不留在「廚房」而仍能保持堅強的意志力。在掌握試探的領域時，我的勸告是：「如果你不能忍受那熱力，就更要留在廚房裡，學習以神的力量來應付它。」

We turn now to another sphere of life from which many of us might long to be exempted - the area of strong and unrelenting temptation. Most of us, if we are honest, would like to be excused from having to face temptation, but temptation has its uses: it can work in God's hands to the development of character, and help perfect the image of Christ in our lives. Mark Antony was called "the silver-throated orator of Rome", but he had the fatal flaw of not being able to resist a temptation.

That indictment, I'm afraid, applies not just to Mark Antony, or to the ranks of the unconverted, but to many in the Church also. We all face temptation, and unfortunately far too many of us fall beneath its power. The root meaning of the word "temptation" (Greek, peirasmos) is that of testing. The dictionary defines temptation as "the act of enticement to do wrong, by promise of pleasure or gain". Charles Swindoll commented: "Temptation motivates you to be bad by promising something good."

Isn't that just like the devil? Are you facing a particularly fierce temptation at the moment? Then take heart - you have all the power you need to stand up under the blast. Harry S. Truman, a former President of the United States, is famous for saying: "If you don't like the heat, get out of the kitchen." But I've not found anyone who was able to stay strong without spending time in the "kitchen". In coming to grips with the sphere of temptation, my advice is: "If you can't stand the heat, stay in the kitchen - and in God's strength, learn to handle it."