Endurance or Indulgence?

 "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." 1 Corinthians 10:13

True or False:

-This has never happened to anyone else; False.

-There is no way out of this temptation; False.

-I can entice myself in my weakest temptation and still deny myself; False.

-I can search the Scriptures to help me, BEFORE and AFTER my temptation; TRUE.

"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 2 Peter 1:3

-Jesus is the answer.  He is my Rescuer and Deliverer, and He has made a way of escape for me; TRUE.

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

Whenever I read 1 Cor. 10:13, the first person I think of is Joseph.  In Genesis 39 we read of how Potiphar's wife tempted Joseph to lie with her. This woman had set her eye on Joseph and literally threw herself at him.  When she first approached Joseph with such a scandalous request, he told her no.  He also reminded her that by doing such a wickedness that he would sin against God.  Joseph thought this situation had been dealt with, but the bible tells us in verse 10 of Genesis 39, that Potiphar's wife enticed Joseph daily!  She eventually even had the audacity to grab a hold of Joseph when there were no other men in the house.  What did Joseph do?  "...he fled and got him out." He RAN!

Sometimes the only way to escape temptation is to run.

In 1 Corinthians 10:13, "Paul pointed to the One on whom the Corinthians could rely. The temptations that seized the Corinthians were like those that the people had always faced. They could be met and endured by depending on God, who is faithful.  Part of the Corinthian problem was that some in the face of temptation were not looking for a way by endurance, but a way in for indulgence." Walvoord & Zuck

Which brings me to another example.

"At a market, a little boy stood by a candy display, looking as if he was going to take some without paying. A clerk watched the boy and finally said, 'Looks like you're trying to take some candy.' The boy answered, 'Mister, I'm trying to NOT take any.'"  Anonymous

This may be a cute example of temptation, but it also shows that the longer you look at your temptation, the greater that temptation becomes!

It's our choice.

We can be like the little boy in the candy store and keep our temptation ever before us, or we can be like Joseph and RUN.

The way of escape isn't necessarily an easy way...

    but it's available...

        But that's just me!