Tempted Or Tested?

What’s the difference between being tempted and being tested?

God’s Response

When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. James 1:3

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. James 1:12-13

You’re familiar with being tested—it happens at regular intervals in your classes. You know the drill: Go over the material, learn what you need to know, take the test, give the right answers. When God gives you a test, he’s doing it to make you a better person, making sure you learn something you need to know. God wants you to succeed and will never tempt you to sin, which would make you a worse person. Satan, who wants you to fail, is the source of temptation. Satan will tempt you, but God will test you so that you will learn to recognize temptation and avoid it.

This Is Promising

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8