March 25, 2020: SOAP #3765:  Joshua 21-22; Psalm 47; 1Corinthians 10

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it.

Observation:  What an amazing three-fold promise.  First:  I have not been singled out to be tempted differently than other people.  There are people who understand because they have been through the same thing.  There will be some good examples of overcoming the temptation.  Second:  The One who knows me best will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I can bear.  That is His promise!!!   Third:  The One who knows me best will provide a way to escape the temptation.

And along with this verse, it is good to consider Hebrews 4:15  “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.”

Application:  I had a good friend who ran a salvage yard.  People came to him to buy undamaged parts from cars that had been wrecked.  I often heard him say, “Our parts have been road tested.”

I like to think that the life of Christ within me has been “road tested.”  Having been through the temptations himself, he knows how to overcome.  Some examples show me how NOT to overcome.  They show me one way to fail.  But the example of Jesus shows me HOW TO OVERCOME!

Prayer:  Lord, not only do you give me an example of how to overcome, your presence with me strengthens me to overcome.  Your Holy Spirit empowers me to live in victory! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!