6 Minute Read + Scripture readings
Today’s Bible Reading:
Today’s Bible Verse(s):
“No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide a way out so that you may be able to bear it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 (CSB)
Reflections on Today’s Bible Verse(s):
This verse is misapplied almost every time it is quoted. When people cite this verse, they use it to talk about how God won’t put more trouble on us than we can bear. Then, the inevitable joke follows: “I just wish he didn’t trust me so much.”
But, my friend, this verse is not talking about trouble. It’s talking temptation. The word “temptation” appears twice and “tempted” appears once. Clearly, this verse is about temptation.
This passage states that God won’t allow us to be tempted to sin beyond our ability to defeat the temptation, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Further, every temptation will have an escape hatch that we can take so that we don’t need to sin.
But, let me share something else with you. Imagine that you just finished a huge meal and you are stuffed. You are so full that you’re a bit miserable. Then, someone puts a delicious piece of pie in front of you, that just came out of the oven, and they say: “See this? Don’t eat it.” It’s really not tempting, is it? You’re full so that pie doesn’t hold any control over you.
Yet, now imagine that you have been on a 24-hour fast. You haven’t eaten in a full day. Then, someone puts a delicious piece of pie in front of you, that just came out of the oven, and they say: “See this? Don’t eat it.” It would be incredibly tempting, wouldn’t it? You may struggle not to take a bite.
You see, the pie isn’t really the temptation. It’s what’s going on inside of you that determines if something is a temptation.
So, while God’s purposes are never to allow you to be tempted beyond your ability to defeat the temptation, you and I may undermine that process if things are amiss within us.
So, celebrate God’s desire. Enjoy the fact that God doesn’t want you to fall to temptation. But, also take personal responsibility to satisfy yourself in Him, His Word, and what He has blessed you with so that you aren’t hungry when temptation comes around.
“The joy of the Lord will arm us against the assaults of our spiritual enemies and put our mouths out of taste for those pleasures with which the tempter baits his hooks.” (Matthew Henry, 1662-1714)
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Lord Jesus, I want to obey You. I want to demonstrate my desire to know and follow You by defeating temptation before it becomes sin. Thank You so much for the promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13. I also want to do my part and satisfy myself in the good and righteous things so that I would lose my taste for the sinful things. I desperately need Your help if I am to be successful. Thank You in advance for what You will do. Amen.
Matt’s Musings 