As noted, temptation will be there for all of us. There is no one who is exempt from it as we are all human and will be tempted by the evil one, regardless of our relationship with Christ. I am a sinner and it is my nature to want to sin. Temptation will drive me to sin, that I know for certain.
“13No 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)
Here Paul tells the Corinthians again that they will be tempted, and even that God will allow it to happen. This further demonstrates that we are not exempt from temptation, no matter our standing with Christ. But, God will also ensure that we have a way to avoid or be delivered from that temptation. We do not have to be slaves to the temptation.
I have noted in previous writings that temptation can be avoided by continuing to do work. By staying busy with the LORD’s work, my heart and my mind will be focused on the work and does not have a chance to wander into the realm of that temptation. I have also the ability to lean on a partner, my wife, to keep me from the temptations that will come from the evil one as relates to sexual immorality. I have Lori to be with and therefore will lean away from the temptations that will steal my heart.
I have a way out, as you can see in the above paragraph, and that is noted by Paul there in verse 13 above. I can and will endure the temptation, but not on my own. I have to have a place to be and someone to be there with. The place is in the doing of God’s work and the person is the LORD and an accountability partner such as fellow Christians, or the one closest to me in Lori.
God provides me the way to avoid or be delivered from the temptations of the evil one, and He also will not allow me to be tempted with more than I can handle. It must be noted that the amount I can handle is not left for me to decide, but left for God to allow. When left to it on my own, I will take the path of least resistance. God will take me on His path, which may be paved with difficulty, adversity, and plenty of temptation. But that path will always be the one that I can follow and reach the end. God will NOT ask me to take on something that I am not able to complete for Him, after all, it is His will NOT mine.
So when looking at temptation and my relationship with it, I have to remember that first of all, it will be there. I will always have those things that will tempts me to fall away from the path that God has me on. But, God will provide me the way that I can avoid the temptations and not allow them to over take and derail my work that I am tasked with for Him. And, when I am not able to avoid the temptation, He will provide the way to be delivered from it.
What temptations are in your life? Are you allowing them to stop you from proceeding with the work that God has for you? What if you took the approach that God will NOT allow temptations in your life that are more than you can handle?
Trevor's Thoughts 