Except What Is Common To Man!

I find this a comforting thought - No temptation has seized you except what is common to man! The enemy sometimes does well to whisper in our ear this lie: that the temptation's which oft besiege us are like none that any other soul suffers. Oh, if he can trap you with that thought, he can inflict great agony of soul. For if we believe the lie that we are altogether unworthy to come to our Lord and Saviour (because of our many sins and evil inclinations) we remain cut off from hope and help.

In the same way that a pride of lions maneuver to separate an antelope from the safety of the pack, so too does our enemy seek to draw us away from the safety of abiding in our Lord and Saviour. But, when we realize that the temptations which assail us are common to man, even to Christ himself (though He was tempted, yet remained without sin), the enemy is disarmed of this great dividing weapon.

He tries many ways to divert our attention, shift our gaze, weaken our faith, dash our hope – for while our eyes behold the Christ, and our hearts long after the Son of the living God, and our confidence remains in Him, the things of this world remain somewhat dim, the flesh somewhat subdued and temptation’s somewhat lacking in power.