1 Corinthians 10:13 - Temptation Comes with Limits and a Way of Escape.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) No temptation has
overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And
God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted
beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,
he will also provide a way out so that you can
endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) The temptations in
your life are no different from what others
experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the
temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are
tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can
endure.
COMMENTARY
WHERE TEMPTATION BEGINS
One of the best ways to deal with
temptation is to stay away from it when you can.
Granted, temptation can hit us anywhere. Temptation
can hit us as were sitting in church. It
isnt always an immoral, impure thought. It could
be a thought of anger, a thought of hatred, a
thought of jealousy, or some other thing. Temptation
can hit us anytime, anyplace.
But lets be honest. We know there are
places we go that can make us more vulnerable to
temptation. If youre trying to lose weight, dont
drive by Krispy Kreme, because if the sign is lit
up, you know youre going in to get those
fresh doughnuts. We know where we are weak. We
know where we will fall. We unnecessarily put
ourselves in the way of temptation.
The devil is cunning. He has been doing
this for a while. He wont say, Hey, you
happy Christian. Come here. I want to ruin your
life. I want to destroy your family. In fact, I
dont want to just destroy your family; I want to
destroy your kids and your grandkids and your
great-grandkids who arent even born yet. Im going to
mess you up so bad that it will be passed on from
generation to generation. What do you think?
Who is going to respond to that? No,
instead the devil will say, I know you would
never do this stuff. I know you would never be
unfaithful to your spouse. I know you would never lie
or steal. But just this once, try it out. Just
take a little taste. Just try it on once. Take a
test drive. Just take this thought out for a
spin.
That is where the problems begin. It
starts with a little thing that becomes a bigger
thing. [By Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
HOW TEMPTATION BECOMES SIN
Where does temptation come from? Many of
us would say that it comes from the devil.
Theres truth to that, of course. But even if the
devil just took a month off every year, wed
still get ourselves into trouble.
All of us will be tempted at one time or
another. The apostle Paul wrote, The temptations
in your life are no different from what others
experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the
temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are
tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can
endure (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT).
Yet theres something we need to
recognize: we play a key role in our own temptation.
James tells us, Temptation comes from
our own desires, which entice us and drag us
away. These desires give birth to sinful actions.
And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth
to death (James 1:14"15 NLT).
In this verse James breaks down the steps
of temptation for us.
First, were drawn away by our own
desires. The temptation comes to mind and we say,
Im not going to do it, but Ill just take it
for a test drive. Ill kind of think it
through. What would it be like?
But then we take the bait, which makes us
responsible. And were under its power, and frankly
were enjoying the experience. Theres a
momentary euphoria in sin.
Next, the problem is already in full
bloom because we effectively bit on the hook. Then
were enticed and drawn away. And ultimately that
gives birth to sin.
We play a key role in our own temptation
because the devil needs our cooperation in this
area. And where theres no desire on our part,
theres no temptation.
Remember, it isnt the bait that
constitutes temptation. Its the bite. [Greg Laurie
from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
THE WAY OUT
As a very young man, I memorized 1
Corinthians 10:13, and I still remember it today: No
temptation has overtaken you except such as is common
to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow
you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but
with the temptation will also make the way of
escape, that you may be able to bear it (NKJV).
In other words, theres always a way
out of every temptation. In what we often call
the Lords Prayer, Jesus tells us to pray,
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver
us from the evil one (Luke 11:4 NKJV).
The evil one refers to Lucifer, or
the Devil. And we cannot overcome him in our own
strength.
When we pray, Do not lead us into
temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, were
saying, Lord, dont allow me to walk into a
situation that would overwhelm me and cause me to sin.
But deliver me from temptation and any trap the
Devil has set for me.
Its really an acknowledgment of human
weakness. Were saying, I know I could sin. Lord,
help me.
We cannot completely remove ourselves
from temptation. Otherwise, we would have to
leave the planet. And even if we managed to do
that, we still wouldnt be able to get away from
it. Thats why we need Gods help.
The Devil is powerful, but he needs our
cooperation. So, dont tell me that you cant get out
of the trap youre in. Dont tell me you
cant stop doing whatever it is that youre
doing. Dont tell me that, because theres a
way out"if you want to take it.
Temptation will follow us wherever we go,
but there is always a way out. And sometimes,
the way out is as simple as walking out the
door. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
Are you battling an addiction? It might
be something dramatic and chronic like an
addiction to alcohol that you've been fighting for
years. Or, it could be something more subtle, like
an online addiction to playing Pokmon for
hours on end.
While it's never going to be fun or easy
to kick any addiction, you will be surprised
how quickly your peace is restored when you
surrender it to God. Because if you're serious about
pursuing God's healing, then he will meet you where
you are.
So if you find yourself overwhelmed with
temptation, just remember God is not surprised. He knew
what you'd face and has already made a plan to
help you find freedom. Don't miss the power of
Paul's words in today's verse.
God will provide a way out.
What's your way out? Just like your
addiction, your way out is tailor-made just for you. It
could be something dramatic or more low-key. It
might be confessing to your spouse, your best
friend, your small group, or your pastor. It might
be deleting an app and making sure you can't
get to it again. You might need to see a
counselor, visit the doctor, or attend a group. I don't
know what you need to do, but God promises he
will give you a way out.
Just ask him to show you the way.
Lord, sometimes I resign myself to
struggling with the same old temptations over and over
again. I know that you can deliver me. Show me my
way out. [Daily Power by Craig Groeschel]
So often we think we're the exception to
the rule, the person who can handle what others
can't. When I went away to college, I was stupid
enough to believe that I could drink and party
without being affected the way others were. Even
though I knew my family had problems with
alcoholism throughout several generations, I still
thought it couldn't happen to me.
Until it did.
Even my fraternity brothers and teammates
started to worry. Even those who were also partiers
said, "Uh, Craig, you might have a problem." I
figured, no big deal, I can handle this. But then I
started drinking one night and tried to stop after
one beer, and there was no way I could stop. Not
that night. Not the next day. Or the day after
that. Fortunately, not long after this
realization, I became a Christian and with God's help
overcame an addiction that had plagued my family for
several generations.
What is temptation anyway? Temptation is
anything that promises satisfaction at the cost of
obedience to God. But today's verse reminds us that
God always gives us a way out. And why resist
temptation in the future when you have the power to
eliminate it today?
God is the only one who can satisfy our
souls.
And he is the only one who can help us
overcome the temptations we face each day.
God, I'm so grateful for the way you meet
the needs of my heart and satisfy my thirsty
soul. Thank you for the power to overcome any
temptation that comes my way today. [Daily Power by
Craig Groeschel]
INSIGHT
Temptation or Trial
"Oh Joni, isn't it wonderful that God
will never test us beyond what we can endure?
That's a promise from God!"
I knew my friend Sue was looking for an
affirmation, a confirmation that God would never "bend
the bruised reed." As I nodded slowly, relief
flooded her features. Sue had never faced the kind
of mind-bending, soul-obliterating pain that
now loomed on her horizon. But with the recent
medical report and the looming prospect of a
morphine-drip pump in her future, she was scared. Surely
the Lord won't give me more than I can bear, she
was thinking.
First Corinthians 10:13 is certainly a
promise... but it isn't talking about trials. It's
talking about temptation. The promise is that God
will always, always give you the power to say no
to sin. But when it comes to heartaches,
physical problems, and disappointments - things out
of your control, difficult circumstances
suddenly thrust upon you - you may very well be
overwhelmed beyond what you can bear. There is a kind of
suffering that rips your world apart and leaves you
bewildered and wounded. There are trials that
overwhelm.
I drew a deep breath, showing my friend
the context of the promise - and her brow
furrowed. "But take heart," I told her. "It's when we
are at the end of our strength... that's when we
fall helplessly into the everlasting arms of God.
That's when God floods our hearts with sustaining
grace."
You and I may indeed find ourselves
overwhelmed at times - at the end of our rope and
beyond. But we will never fall farther than the palm
of his hand. And where he has called us, his
grace will sustain us.
Gracious Redeemer, I want to trust in you
fully NOW, so that when the waves of trials come,
I will trust in you THEN. [Joni Eareckson Tada
Daily Devotional:
http://www.joniandfriends.org/daily-devotional]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
1 Corinthians 10:13 - Temptation Comes with
Limits and a Way of Escape.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2018/20180110-0943.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio (currently live):
https://bible.awr.org/the-warning/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug
Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
