THE WAY OF ESCAPE

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭10:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Every temptation questions the goodness of God.  We are at a crossroad of decision--to trust or doubt the character of God, to believe in His wisdom or our own, to rely on His gracious hand to provide or take matters into our own hands.  Adam and Eve were persuaded by the Tempter to distrust God's character and disobey His command, and we suffer the horrible consequences of that choice still.  We repeat the same folly far too often.

Understand that the temptation does not always come in the form of some heinous crime or vile debauchery--it may be as subtle as when facing disappointment, disease, or death that we become bitter toward God.  A financial bankruptcy, chronic pain, the death of a child--these and other things will test our faith, and tempt us to doubt God.

Now, the temptation is not a sin.  Jesus was tempted at all points as we are--yet without sin.  The wrestling with the temptation is spiritual warfare, but it is not sin.  Sin is when we surrender--when we embrace Satan's accusation against God.  "You can't trust God.  Why don't you curse Him and die!"

Temptation will often overtake us like that.  We don't have to look for it--it finds us.  Sometimes we think that no one else has ever faced such a trial, but there is nothing new under the sun.  Others have grappled with this and withstood the strain.  The same God who made a way of escape for them, will do so for us.

The truth we rely on is this: "God is faithful."  No matter what the circumstance screams, despite what the Devil or his minions say, even if we cannot understand and the pain pierces our soul, this truth is unchanging.

Grace is given in that moment to endure the test.  A way of escape is given to escape the temptation.  Run to His arms, trust in His Word, believe in His love, even when everything calls for you to doubt Him, run from Him, and become bitter toward Him.  You can have God or follow the Serpent's counsel to be your own god--that you know better than Him.

I did not say that you will never question.  I cannot promise you will not hurt.  I am not assuring you that all makes sense.  My father and mother sung many times, "I don't need to understand; I just need to hold His hand."

Every temptation questions the goodness of God.  We are at a crossroad of decision--to trust or doubt the character of God, to believe in His wisdom or our own, to rely on His gracious hand to provide or take matters into our own hands.  Adam and Eve were persuaded by the Tempter to distrust God's character and disobey His command, and we suffer the horrible consequences of that choice still.  We repeat the same folly far too often.

Understand that the temptation does not always come in the form of some heinous crime or vile debauchery--it may be as subtle as when facing disappointment, disease, or death that we become bitter toward God.  A financial bankruptcy, chronic pain, the death of a child--these and other things will test our faith, and tempt us to doubt God.

Now, the temptation is not a sin.  Jesus was tempted at all points as we are--yet without sin.  The wrestling with the temptation is spiritual warfare, but it is not sin.  Sin is when we surrender--when we embrace Satan's accusation against God.  "You can't trust God.  Why don't you curse Him and die!"

Temptation will often overtake us like that.  We don't have to look for it--it finds us.  Sometimes we think that no one else has ever faced such a trial, but there is nothing new under the sun.  Others have grappled with this and withstood the strain.  The same God who made a way of escape for them, will do so for us.

The truth we rely on is this: "God is faithful."  No matter what the circumstance screams, despite what the Devil or his minions say, even if we cannot understand and the pain pierces our soul, this truth is unchanging.

Grace is given in that moment to endure the test.  A way of escape is given to escape the temptation.  Run to His arms, trust in His Word, believe in His love, even when everything calls for you to doubt Him, run from Him, and become bitter toward Him.  You can have God or follow the Serpent's counsel to be your own god--that you know better than Him.

I did not say that you will never question.  I cannot promise you will not hurt.  I am not assuring you that all makes sense.  My father and mother sung many times, "I don't need to understand; I just need to hold His hand."  

WATER FROM THE ROCK

“Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.”  (Exodus 17:6a)

When some folks get to heaven, they will probably want their mansion a different color.  They always seem to find something about which to gripe.  That was a persistent flaw among the Israelis in the Exodus.  God’s provision in the past ought to have instilled confidence, but instead they respond to their problem with complaining.  How much like them we can be!

In Exodus 17, there is an example of one such DIFFICULTY (v.1).  They had no water.  This did not surprise God for He had led them to that very place by the pillar of cloud and fire.  The child of God must know that God brings us to barren places.  We arrive in seasons of dryness sent to test us and meant to teach us.  They come to drive us in desperation to God, not to make us despair of God.  Difficulties will make us better or bitter.  It depends on whether we respond with faith or fretfulness.

In their case, the Hebrews responded with DISCONTENT (v.2-3).  The root problem was their unbelief.  They failed to recall God’s unlimited power or rest in His unfailing promises.  Their stubborn heart of unbelief was an affront to God.  They set limits on Him by failing to recognize the boundless ability and absolute integrity of Almighty God.  “How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, And grieved Him in the desert!  Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel.”  (Ps.78:40-41)  God is warning us lest we have the same sinful spirit (see 1 Cor.10:1-13).

That is what brings DELIVERANCE (v.4-7).  Moses responded properly.  Rather than complain about the lack, he cried out to the Lord.  That is what difficulties are meant to cause.  If you are a leader in the church, you will find members who attack you because they are angry with God.  They can’t get to Him, so they gripe to you as His representative.  Moses, like all God’s men, become targets for the arrows of murmuring meant for God.  They fall short of heaven and hit our heart.  The example of Moses helps us.  He didn’t yell back at them in frustration, but called out to God in faith.  Like Jesus, Moses was meek (Num.12:3)—an essential quality for spiritual leaders.  Instead of clubbing the complainers, he strikes the rock.  That rock symbolized the Rock of Ages—Jesus Christ.  Paul said, “For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”  (1 Cor.10:4b)  As Moses struck that rock, so Christ was smitten on Calvary, and from His side flowed the water and the blood.  In that stream alone can we find eternal satisfaction.  Jesus told the Samaritan woman that drinking of this world’s wells would only lead to thirst again—she had tried that!  He offered her Living Water—that which will fill the thirst of our soul.  That is Jesus and Him alone.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.  (Joseph Scriven)

DELIGHTING IN DIFFICULTIES

 

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  (James 1:2-5)

We are to rejoice in all seasons of life—even the difficult ones may be counted as delight.  We can do so, because God is good.  That is an immutable reality no matters the changes in our circumstances.  We may walk with a warm summer breeze at our backs or a cold winter blast in our face—yet God is good and His will is perfect and precious.

As we consider our challenges, we not only choose to rejoice despite them, but to calculate pure joy from them, and what those trials sent by a sovereign God are accomplishing in us.  No matter the nature of the trials—and they come in many shapes and sizes—each one is formative to faith.  An untested faith is an unproven faith.  Physical muscle is only developed by resistance, and so spiritual strength only comes by exercising our faith.

The race of life is a grueling marathon.  We run on a rough track, and it trains us to endure.  The ongoing discipline of it builds spiritual stamina so we may finish the race strong and triumphant.  None become chiseled champions for Christ without the varied rigors we encounter.  Here is how a robust faith is produced.

Whether we like it or not—the truth is—we live in a fallen world, where there will be little advancement in godliness without adversity.  Spiritual maturity is rooted in rocky soil, on a cliff-side that at times is scorched by the heat of the sun of trials, or drenched by the storms of hardship, but always nourished by grace.

Seeing life this way does not come from a worldly perspective.  The natural man scrupulously avoids anything seeming to be painful.  It is an instinctive reaction.  But God offers His wisdom on the matter.  This view from heaven is ours for the asking.  We may receive the insight to see how God is at work.  Seek His way on how to properly respond to the trial rather than praying for Him to remove the trial.  There is an ample supply of understanding that God is willing to give.  Do you recall how God taught Joseph, in the saga recorded in Genesis—that He had sent him into his trials to prepare him for a glorious purpose?

May God give us wisdom in His ways—that we may not waste our sorrows.  The trials are unavoidable, but can become usable to mature us and mold us into the likeness of Christ.  As we see this development, we learn to delight in difficulties.