Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 1 Corinthians 10 and Psalm 119:49-64

1 Corinthians 9 highlighted the importance of a single-minded pursuit of Christlikeness and God’s will in all things. In 1 Cor. 10, Paul uses the experiences of the Israelites in the wilderness to warn us against the temptations that might derail us from that pursuit. He warns that we will find ourselves tempted by our own evil desires to indulge in idolatry, immorality, and grumbling against the Lord – all of which are really symptoms of a deep underlying self-centredness! And, in case we think we’re above this kind of temptation, he warned explicitly:

If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! (v.12)

The stark warning comes with a beautiful promise, though. We do not have to do this in our own strength. Unlike the ancient people of God, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit to help us. And I suspect that’s why v.13 says with such confidence:

¹³ … 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.

In this verse we hear two echoes of the Lord’s Prayer: ‘Lead us not into temptation’ – God has promised to guide us in such a way as to limit our temptation (v.13a). ‘Deliver us from evil‘ – God has promised always to provide a way of escape in times of temptation (v.13b). God will never force us to use the way of escape He provides, but He will always make it available and will give us the power to take that escape route. Ultimately, though, it’s up to us to take God’s way of escape!

Life application: Ask the Lord to open your eyes to see the darkness behind the temptations you face today, and the consequences of surrendering to it. Let that darkness motivate you to reject the temptation and run to Christ