Temptation Escape

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it.” ~1 Corinthians 10:13 HCSB

Through the years I have seen this verse used for everything.  I seen it used to comfort those who are suffering illness or having marital problems and even dealing with teenagers.  But in reading this verse in context Paul is clearly talking about sin, especially idolatry.  Idolatry is setting up anything in place of God in your heart.  In other words anything you treasure in your heart more than God is idolatry.  Paul verifies this in the very next verse where he says, “Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.”  So how do we escape the sin of idolatry?

Firstly we have to understand we will be tempted.  All of us are subject to temptation and temptation in itself is not sin.  Jesus was tempted and did not sin.  What matters with temptation is what we do with it.  If we try to manage it on our own we will fail, sin management never works long term.  What has to change is our heart.  God never promises to take away the desire to sin, but he does promise to give you a new heart, a heart that desires Him.  James 4:8 tells us “If we draw near to God, He will draw near to you”.  We have to make God the focus, keep our eyes on Christ and God will provide a way to escape so that you can bear it.  Notice it does not say remove it, but you will able to bear it.  

So many of us beg God to remove the sin and temptation in our lives and when He doesn’t do it we blame Him for not rescuing us.  Paul complained about a thorn in his flesh and he asked God three times to remove it. We don’t know what the thorn was but we do know God’s response.  God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9a).  The second half of the verse gives us Paul conclusion to this revelation from God, “Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me.” Paul understood he had to live in the grace of God, focused on Christ.  By doing do the desire to sin and the power of temptation would diminish and would not have a hold on him, he would be able to bear it in Christ, through Christ.

So what temptation are you facing, what do you idolize in your heart?  Look to Christ, pray God would draw you near and provide a way of escape through Him.  Draw on the power of Christ, give thanks for His never-ending grace and love.