Thursday, March 20 || DO NOT LOSE HEART WHEN TEMPTED

Read : I Corinthians 10: 6-13

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. ...”

- I Corinthians 10:13

Paul encourages us that our testings are not unique to us. We are not the only ones going through a particular trial. Other people of God are going through as well. And God is faithful. He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. Every trial that comes our way is somehow in the sovereign will and control of God, and He will certainly not allow it to destroy us. One of the basic principles of training athletes is to get them to perform beyond their natural capabilities. This is done by applying more and more controlled pressure, so the athlete thinks he can do more than he can actually do and before long he does it. This is what God does with us. He allows more and more pressure to be put on us to teach us to trust Him alone so that the life of Christ can be manifested in us. But we need to remember that He will never give us more pressure than we can handle. When we are tempted or tested, He will also provide a way out - a way of escape from testing. What is that way? It is a life of faith, trust and obedience to God.

Dear friends, notice Paul does not say God will take us out of the testing. He might do that, but here Paul says that God will give us His grace to endure it. He will deal with our attitude. He may not change our circumstances, but He will change our minds about the circumstances so we can endure it, persevere through it and grow in holiness, and ultimately we will not be disqualified from the spiritual race.