TEMPTATION

“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)

The Christian should not knowingly, purposely, go where temptation awaits, but he “falls” around it and upon it, unknowingly, without seeking it. As he goes about his daily duty, in the workplace, in the marketplace, at school, in the community, at leisure; he sees and hears things he does not purpose to see and hear; he “falls” into temptation. Is it possible to avoid it? No, it is an absolute certainty that temptation is all around. It challenges to a fight, but victory is assured and joy will follow, so we are to “count it all joy.”

One is not to seek temptation or to knowingly go where it is; no promise is made to us if we do; but when it meets us on our heavenward journey, we are to continue onward and upward. We may see no way out, but the “way of escape” is promised by Him who cannot lie. In due time, we will see the way, as we continue in the path of duty doing what we ought to do.

In His loving care,

Pastor Ed Bowen

August 1, 2010