I was shocked for a few moments as I thought about those words. It occurs to me that there is a lot of truth in that statement and wise counsel for all of us. Satan, the master tempter, is intimately aware with our areas of weakness and will constantly be nudging and hinting...carefully trying to lead us into situations where we will be most vulnerable to our particular vices. Even wonderful and faithful Nephi exclaimed in the 4th chapter of 2nd Nephi:
17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.None of us are immune to falling prey to the temptations of the deceiver. Moroni beheld weakness of a different sort but the words of the Lord to him about his perceived shortcomings are just as applicable to us regardless of where our weak points are:
27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.Let us all heed the warning of the fortune cookie and be careful, because we are all easily tempted in some areas. There is an oft quoted promise found in 1 Corinthians that reads:
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.but in Alma 13 we are given further instructions:
But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;We can get ourselves into situations where our ability to resist a particular temptation will be compromised. we need to exercise caution (watching) and avoid places where temptation will be prevalent. We need to be actively praying and then the Lord's promise that we will overcome is of full potency. Let us be faithful brothers and sisters.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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