Aug19 Written by:Nathan Williams
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
We have this famous verse in 1 Cor. 10:13:
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
What can we learn from this verse?
1. I will never be tempted in a truly unique sense. Whatever I face, men have faced before me. Does this help me? It helps me know I'm not alone in my temptations. It helps me know there are brethren who have already faced these things and can help me through them. It helps me know there are men and women in the Scriptures who have faced these same temptations and stand as my examples.
2. God is faithful to make sure I'm not tempted beyond my capabilities. This helps me trust God. He cares enough for each one of us to make sure we don't face something beyond our strength to handle. This does not mean some temptations won't be EXTREMELY HARD to face. It just means whatever we face, God has given us the promise that we CAN face it.
3. God provides the way of escape. Notice the word "way" is in the singular. It's possible there is just one way to escape from some temptations. If there is only one way, we should still thank God for providing it! There's never a temptation without a way to get loose. Sometimes we think there is. We say things like, "There was nothing I could do about it..." For some of our brothers and sisters who have gone on before us, the only way of escape was through death. Those poor Christians who were burned at the stake, pulled apart by wild animals, and tortured in unspeakable ways found their way of escape. Don't you think they were tempted to give up the name "Christ"? Don't you think they had all kinds of rationalizations going through their minds: "I need to stay alive for the sake of my family," "God will understand," "Surely God wants me to live."
We need to take advantage of all the help God gives us to escape temptation, look for the escape routes He provides, and not make excuses when we do fall victim to temptation. Surely we cannot give our excuses to God. Wouldn't He say, "I provided a way of escape, but you didn't take it"?
God bless you to see your ways of escape today,
Nathan
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