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A little boy lived on a farm.  One day he came up to his dad and asked, “Dad, is it ok with you if I steal grandma’s purse?”  The dad looked at his boy with a straight face, hiding the amazement within him.  “Why would you ask me something like that?”  The dad asked.  The boy answered, “I was tempted to do it.  I think I even want to do it.  And I thought I’d ask you if it’s ok.”  The boy said.

There are certain things we KNOW God doesn’t want us to do.  How often have I found myself pleading and pleading with God to help me resist temptation.  I would guess others have also.   Here’s the meat of the issue:

Why do we beg for something the Lord has plainly told us is not ok with Him?  And why do we beg for strength to overcome?  The issue here is the begging.  Begging does not have the same strength as a simple belief that God is willing to help.  He has promised to give such things to those who love Him.  It is not His will that we sin.  It is His will to overcome sin.

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

He wants us to live life full of “wins”.  And He is anxious (if that is possible) to see that “Winning attitude” appear in all of His children.  Let’s get our head on straight.  Are we so immature in Christ Jesus that we can’t make out the difference between temptation and a test?