A Way of Escape
"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)
There are many paths one may take in this fallen world. Many of them lead to despair, destruction and captivity as slaves to sin, possibly for eternity. Our loving Father God lays out instructions throughout the Bible to help us identify, choose and stay on the paths which will help us have the best possible life in this fallen world, and He reveals the way (through Jesus Christ) which will lead us to true Life (Heaven) for eternity.
Satan, a real being with real (but limited) power does not want people to succeed in reaching Jesus or Heaven. So he lays traps, he sends out his people to ensnare, encumber and entice. He does this through creative means including temptations, trying to tempt people to leave God's Way and branch off onto the myriad paths of destruction.
He is smarter than us, so we are in real trouble. However, Christ Jesus has defeated Satan on the Cross and Jesus is smarter! So, although Satan is flailing around, wounded and destined to die, desperate to destroy God's people, the more powerful Jesus deploys weapons which allow us to resist these temptations.
Every day will have its particular challenges, sometimes they will be struggles, trials which come out of nowhere and temptations. What we can learn from this verse is to take each day as it comes knowing that our gracious Father God will give us everything we need to deal with whatever those things may be.
However, we cannot just be complacent. As we need daily food for physical sustenance, we also need to read the Bible and pray every day to strengthen and prepare us to resist the barrage of temptations when they come.
As it is foolish for a nation not to prepare and maintain its defenses, so it is foolish for God's people to ignore the means of defense against temptations provided by God.
Photo and reflection by Craig Manners
"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)
There are many paths one may take in this fallen world. Many of them lead to despair, destruction and captivity as slaves to sin, possibly for eternity. Our loving Father God lays out instructions throughout the Bible to help us identify, choose and stay on the paths which will help us have the best possible life in this fallen world, and He reveals the way (through Jesus Christ) which will lead us to true Life (Heaven) for eternity.
Satan, a real being with real (but limited) power does not want people to succeed in reaching Jesus or Heaven. So he lays traps, he sends out his people to ensnare, encumber and entice. He does this through creative means including temptations, trying to tempt people to leave God's Way and branch off onto the myriad paths of destruction.
He is smarter than us, so we are in real trouble. However, Christ Jesus has defeated Satan on the Cross and Jesus is smarter! So, although Satan is flailing around, wounded and destined to die, desperate to destroy God's people, the more powerful Jesus deploys weapons which allow us to resist these temptations.
Every day will have its particular challenges, sometimes they will be struggles, trials which come out of nowhere and temptations. What we can learn from this verse is to take each day as it comes knowing that our gracious Father God will give us everything we need to deal with whatever those things may be.
However, we cannot just be complacent. As we need daily food for physical sustenance, we also need to read the Bible and pray every day to strengthen and prepare us to resist the barrage of temptations when they come.
As it is foolish for a nation not to prepare and maintain its defenses, so it is foolish for God's people to ignore the means of defense against temptations provided by God.
Photo and reflection by Craig Manners
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