That You May Be Able to Endure It - 1 Corinthians 10:13

-



No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

Temptation is not sin. I get tempted. Everyone does. It is part of the fabric of being human, even for believers. And I might think that this temptation is unique to me. That I need to work my way through it in my own way. 

That's just my pride. "I got this. No one can help me."

When I try to work it, I end up feeling hopeless. Feeling that others can live a victorious Christian life, but not me. 

I have year upon year of trying to break through my own temptation and sin. 

But wait... He doesn't let me get tempted beyond my ability. "Yes He does!" I secretly think. 

I'm wrong. I know, because when I look at how giving in to my sin happened, I see patterns of thought and even "smaller" sins that led up to the big blowout. I entertained the evil desire before it sprang on me. 

It's like taking care of a cobra and thinking it won't bite me as soon as it can. 

Entertaining the idea of that sin is not using God's way of escape. That's just me laying the groundwork for my own unrighteousness. 

He gives me a way of escape and I push it aside. I think what I want. 

What if I said, "Lord, help me stay clean. Strip away my denial. Convict me. Give me the strength to confess my weakness. Show me the way out." 

What if I run to Jesus? And what if I call a trusted friend to tell them that I'm struggling? 

Lord help me cry out to you when I struggle with temptation. Help me love you in my thoughts. May I depend on your when I just want to run away. Give me the strength to call or text my friends when I'm in trouble. Blessed be the name of the Lord. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rest in God Alone - Psalm 62:5-8

-
Image
  Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken. My salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock. My refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before him. God is our refuge. Selah - Psalm 62:5‭-‬8 CSB Recently, my hope, my faith was shaken. I felt like a kitten caught up in the jaws of a German Shepherd. I know to look to Jesus. I know. Knowing and doing are not the same. I can be real good with knowing, and weak on the doing. Today, I am in the middle of it all. And it comes and goes. I feel so far away. My feelings don’t know. My bible tells me the truth. The Psalm says to rest in God alone. Rest. What a beautiful short little stubby word. Rest. There’s only one place. Jesus. He is right here. He's not far.  Jesus gives me hope. I cannot generate it from within my belly. My hope does not come from me. Is that not an overlooked truth even for th
Read more

You Caused - Psalm 71:20-22

-
Image
You caused me to experience many troubles and misfortunes, but you will revive me again. You will bring me up again, even from the depths of the earth. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again. Therefore, I will praise you with a harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing to you with a lyre, Holy One of Israel. Psalm 71:20-22 This verse makes my head spin around and say, “Wait, what did that just say?” The Psalmist, talking to God says, “You caused me to experience many troubles and misfortunes.” God caused. Not the devil. In my imagination, when I hurt, I can wrongly think that God is far away from me. I can think He wishes I wasn’t going through it. That’s not what the verse says. God causes my troubles and misfortune. That’s heavy.  And of course He loves me. How can I get those ideas to synch together? Here’s the question: Why would a loving God do such a thing? Here’s my thought: over and over in the Bible God tells His covenant people to depend on Him. This must
Read more

Prayers for Everyone - 1 Timothy 2:1-3

-
Image
  First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior.1 Timothy 2:1-3 *Note: I used https://biblicalexegete.wordpress.com/2014/12/06/a-closer-look-at-four-different-types-of-prayer-in-1-timothy-21/ for Greek language help in this devotion. I am a believer, therefore by definition I am a praying man. That doesn’t mean that I’m very good at it yet. I have a lot to learn. I’m saying that believers pray. It is what they do. Prayer is wonderful. I get to enter the presence of the king of glory and talk to Him. What a privilege! God hears it all. He even hears me when I don’t get it to come out of my heart correctly. He translates it for me. And He wants me to keep getting better. He’s like that loving dad that loves watching me play baseball. He loves seeing me get a
Read more