“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.” I Corinthians 10:13
“Tempted to do wrong?
There is a way of escape.
Find the door and run.”
Eve wandered through the garden of Eden until she stood before the Tree of Knowledge, wondering what was different about it, and why God had told them not to eat of it. When the serpent spoke to her, she was tempted to pick the fruit and eat of it. If only she had trusted God, looked around and saw all the other fruit that was available, and ran. How different the story would have been?
Joseph was trusted by his master to look after everything in the house. Potiphar’s wife decided that she wanted him to meet her needs as well. When he realized what she had in mind, he ran from her presence, leaving his garment behind. Of course, this cost him his place and he ended up in prison. But he had resisted the temptation, even though he did not have this scripture in Corinthians to refer to.
David, walking on his rooftop in the cool of the evening beheld something that he should not have been looking at. Temptation arose in his heart. The same door that had led him to the roof was still open, all he had to do was turn around and go back in. Instead of running, he gave in to the temptation.
Jesus in the wilderness was tempted by the devil to sin, but He used the Word of God to resist the devil and thus kept Himself from sinning.
I Peter 5:8-9 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
James l:22-25 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
We are human, so there will certainly be times when thoughts and desires will enter our minds, tempting us. It is only when we give in to the temptation, that it becomes sin. God has promised to always provide a way of escape. In those moments, we need to look for the door and run.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you understand our human hearts, and know that we will face times of temptation. Help us to always look for the way of escape that you have provided and flee.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
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