1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
A friend recently returned from hiking the Swiss Alps. On her various climbs I imagine the temptation to find easier trails presented itself, especially when legs and lungs screamed for a break. But the easier trails were not necessarily the right ones and the group had to keep the final goal in mind.
In reading Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest devotional of September 17 he proposed an interesting question — What’s the Good of Temptation? He uses the above verse as his basis. Temptation is not sin and temptations are not unique. But the kinds of things we are tempted by reveal our character and what Chambers calls, “ruling disposition.” Like my friend faced, temptation draws us to take shortcuts to the good we would seek (accomplishing her hiking goals and returning to the hotel in one piece), not to the bad.
When we succumb to temptation don’t we willingly go in the direction of the bad? Like hiking in the Alps, the path to good is filled with craggy rocks, sheer drops, and steep inclines. While God does not save us from temptation, He helps us through them. We walk away with knowledge of our own shortcomings, and of what we need to change.
Choose to rely on God’s Way and choose to change for God’s good as you make your way along the trails of life.
“Dear Lord, help me turn to You and Your power and strength before the road gets too rocky and steep. Thank you, AMEN”
Blessings of smooth hiking! Prayer requests?
Climbing Life with Jesus while Keeping God’s Final Goal Uppermost, PJ
COPYRIGHT ©2014 PJ Gover
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Filed under: Practical Christianity Tagged: Christian living, staying strong God's way, Temptation Image may be NSFW.
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