Our Experienced Succorer

Our Experienced Succorer

For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Hebrews 2:18

How many times, and in how many ways, do we encounter temptation?  Our journey through life seems much like traveling through a tropical jungle.  At any time we are liable to come face to face with some danger, to fall into some trap, or to have some predator stalk us.  We face the wear of constant vigilance and the weariness of constant travel.  Every day is a new challenge to our souls.  If we had no one else who could understand how we feel in such an environment we might slip into utter despair.  Thankfully, we possess in Christ an absolutely understanding Helper and Friend.  Our text for today reminds us that Christ has endured temptations in the days of His incarnation, He is able to effectively minister to us who now suffer temptation.

Let us consider for a little while the temptations which Christ suffered.  He experienced the temptations which Satan placed before Him; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.  He endured the temptations that come by virtue of physical weariness and want.  He endured the temptation of the opposition of those who refused to believe the gospel and the indifference of those who simply couldn’t be bothered with listening.  He endured the temptation of His own disciples’ slowness to comprehend spiritual truth.  In short, every temptation which is a trial and every trial which brings a temptation is something with which Christ has experience.  This gives Him a peculiar ability.  He is able to be the Divine Helper to those of us who are tempted.  In Christ we find the perfect combination of Divine attributes with the fullness of human experience.  The great joy for us is that He employs Himself to succor us.  We walk the road of life today.  We now endure temptation.  We wear thin and weak.  We need His succoring to sustain us.  Christ is not only able to succor us, but He is also most willing to aid us.  Are you today so besieged that you feel you cannot go on?  Look away to Christ, your most thoroughly experienced Succorer.  He will help you!  He knows how you feel.

O Christ Our Savior,

draw near to us we pray.

enable us to take the next step.

succor us in our hour of temptation.

We need Thee so.

Where the Bush is Burning

Tomm Tice