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Today’s Audio Devotion:
A Test Is Not a Temptation

The late comedian Flip Wilson created fictional characters for his comedy sketches—one of which was famous for saying, “The devil made me do it!” While the devil can’t make anyone sin, blaming him is more accurate than saying, “God tempted me to sin.”

The apostle James made it clear: God does not tempt anyone to sin. That is not to say that God doesn’t use tests in our life. For instance, when God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and the people saw the thunder and lightning and were afraid, Moses told them, “God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin” (Exodus 20:20). While the same Greek word for “test” can also be translated “temptation,” a test from God is not a temptation from God. As James wrote, temptation arises from within.

When you are tempted, “fear the Lord and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7). Ask God to help you cultivate desires from the Spirit rather than from the flesh (Romans 7:7-8).

Temptation has its source not in the outer lure but in the inner lust.
D. Edmund Hiebert

Some 2,600 years ago, God gave King Nebuchadnezzar a dream. In this dream, the king saw a five–part statue made of five different metals (see Daniel 2). Each section represented an empire, beginning with Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon. Four of these empires have already risen and fallen in history—a clear fulfillment of Daniel's prophetic interpretation. The fifth and final empire indicates a future Europe—a ten nation coalition that will unite under the Antichrist's rule.

You can read about the King's dream and Daniel's interpretation in Daniel 2, but let's take a quick visual look at what you will find:

The Colossus
  1. King Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon

    Daniel's words to the king are clear. "You are this head of gold" (Daniel 2:37–38).

  2. Medo–Persian Empire

    The Medo–Persian Empire conquered Babylon in 539 BC and remained in power for approximately two hundred years (Daniel 5:28).

  3. Grecian Empire

    Greece's Empire succeeded the Medo–Persians (Daniel 8:21).

  4. Roman Empire

    When the Grecian empire was conquered by Rome, all the lands and peoples of the previous kingdoms were assimilated into the Roman Empire through the strengths of the "iron legions of Rome" (Daniel 2:40).

  5. Future European Coalition

    This empire has not yet risen. Daniel foretells a time when the Roman Empire—Europe—will consist of ten kingdoms or leaders. The future Roman Empire will be present on the earth when God sets up His earthly kingdom (Daniel 2:44).

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1:37 / 3:48