A WAY TO ESCAPE

"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

Many of us remember the part of this verse that says, 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." But we forget the first part of the verse which is tremendously important: "There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man."

There is nothing wrong with you when you feel tempted. Never let the devil accuse you with that lie. The temptation you face is not new and different. Others are battling the same problem. And God has given you the measure of faith (Romans 12:3) to overcome.

"But," you say, "there have been times when I've experienced a temptation and I gave in to it. Where was the way of escape then? Where was this promise that God would not allow me to be tempted beyond what I could bear?"

God didn't allow you to be tempted more than you could bear; He did make a way for you to escape your temptations. The reason you or I give in is because down deep inside we DESIRE what the temptation offers; and second, we have not rooted and grounded ourselves, by our faith, in Christ. Also, we do not use God's Word. Jesus said to the devil who tempted Him, "Devil, it is written!"

God does provide a way of escape. That is His part. Our part is to cultivate DESIRING His will, making our way and words agree with His way and Word, and putting our faith in the Lord to help us overcome it.