Beware of the Least Likely Temptation

Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom —1 Kings 2:28

Joab withstood the greatest test of his life, remaining absolutely loyal to David by not turning to follow after the fascinating and ambitious Absalom. Yet toward the end of his life he turned to follow after the weak and cowardly Adonijah. Always remain alert to the fact that where one person has turned back is exactly where anyone may be tempted to turn back (see 1 Corinthians 10:11-13). You may have just victoriously gone through a great crisis, but now be alert about the things that may appear to be the least likely to tempt you. Beware of thinking that the areas of your life where you have experienced victory in the past are now the least likely to cause you to stumble and fall.

We are apt to say, “It is not at all likely that having been through the greatest crisis of my life I would now turn back to the things of the world.” Do not try to predict where the temptation will come; it is the least likely thing that is the real danger. It is in the aftermath of a great spiritual event that the least likely things begin to have an effect. They may not be forceful and dominant, but they are there. And if you are not careful to be forewarned, they will trip you. You have remained true to God under great and intense trials— now beware of the undercurrent. Do not be abnormally examining your inner self, looking forward with dread, but stay alert; keep your memory sharp before God. Unguarded strength is actually a double weakness, because that is where the least likely temptations will be effective in sapping strength. The Bible characters stumbled over their strong points, never their weak ones.

“. . . kept by the power of God . . .”— that is the only safety. (1 Peter 1:5).

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絕不可能嗎？

約押雖然沒有歸從押沙龍，卻歸從了亞多尼雅。 （王上二28）

約押在大考驗中站得住，始終對大衛絕對效忠，沒有隨從那野心勃勃、欺世惑眾的押沙龍。但到了晚年，卻跟隨了貪鄙的亞多尼雅。所以要常常提高警覺；有一個人可以這樣倒退，眾人都有這倒退的可能（林前十13）。你過了大難關嗎？現在就要在最小的事上留心。那最不為人注意的小事，要懂得留心。

我們會很隨意的說：[既然經過這樣大的考驗，就不會再回到世俗中去，留戀世事了。 ]不要自以為知道試探的來源；最不可能發生的事，往往是最致命的。在一次重大的屬靈轉變過後，那隱而不露的試探就開始出現了；這不會很昭彰明顯，卻潛藏在那裡，若不警覺，就必把你絆倒。你在烈火的考驗下曾經持守純正，向神忠貞，如今卻要當心暗潮。但不必無病呻吟，內省自疚，對前途恐懼不前，只要保持警覺，在神面前有一種清晰能力。沒有防衛看守，力量就會變弱，那暗潮便會湧入，叫防守崩陷。聖經人物很多都在優點上失敗，而不是在弱點上。

[蒙神能力保守]－－這是唯一安全之方。

祈禱◆主啊，今天我要奉你的名講道；求你使它藉著你的能力而發放。使我的靈魂確實認識你，讓我在所有深入和終極的意義上只專注於你。