Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13 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.
Devotion: Being tempted itself is not a sin. In fact, in Matthew 4, we see that Jesus was tempted by the devil when he was in the wilderness. When temptation becomes sin is when we act on it. Thankfully, when have put our faith in Jesus, we are also always provided a way out of the temptation.
One of the best ways out is to just simply flee. Consider Joseph in Genesis 39. The wife of the man that Joseph worked for was trying to seduce him. She found Joseph attractive, and day after day, he turned down her advances. Eventually, she tricked him by not having any other workers in the house and grabbing his robe. When she did this, he fled. He encountered temptation and did not want to sin, so he found the nearest exit and ran out of it.
Memorizing and studying God’s Word is another way that we resist temptation. It was with the very Word of God that Jesus resisted Satan in the wilderness. Each time that Jesus was tempted, he responded by reciting the truth of God’s Word. Writing Scripture on our hearts and burying it deep within allows us to recall it and rely on it when we are faced with temptation.
And finally, the Lord also provides us a way out of temptation through vigilant prayer. In Mark 14:38, Jesus says, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Seeking God through prayer and calling on the Holy Spirit to strengthen and embolden us will allow us to resist temptation.
Isn’t it amazing that we have a God that will never leave us or abandon us? When we are tempted by the things of this world, He loves us enough to always provide us with a way out.
Reflect:
- Think about some times that you have been tempted and God provided a way out. Did you recognize that as God’s provision at the time? How does knowing He provides a way out change your perspective now?
