May 2023
Nougat 4
We’re going to work on Keeping It Real as we reflect on today’s Holy Nougat
“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 NLT
God will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand
I know that we have talked about this before but it’s helpful to revisit (and perhaps consider another perspective).
A. Temptation is inevitable – it WILL come, just as surely as night follows day. It may be glaring like butter or cream placed openly in front of a cat; but it is also very subtle at times, and we have to be alert to the fact that it is temptation. Because it is certain; we need to prepare ourselves for it and have a plan.
B. Temptation is NOT SIN, it is the enticement to sin. We are not sinners for being tempted; we sin when we give in to temptation! Even when we encourage the temptation, it is not too late to walk away without yielding. It may be hard, because the enemy does know some of our weak spots, especially when we’re learning to walk away from addictions (ie deeply ingrained Bad or Distracting Habits that won’t disappear), BUT it’s still possible to forfeit yielding.
C. We gotta KNOW ourselves – honestly. I know we might not want to have others up in our beeswax, several believers do struggle with Secret Sin, until somehow it ain’t no secret no more. If we can’t admit to having addictions or strong proclivities towards certain things, then we are likelier to yield, since we have not placed ourselves in a position to escape, get help, or acknowledge that our issue is sin.
D. Know our limits – and underestimate it by 5%, so we have a greater chance to walk away. Yes, stats have proven that we’re actually stronger than we think – well actually it’s Christopher Robin with a quote that said always remember that “you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and loved more than you know.” – but when it comes to the business of temptation; it’s better to be on the other side of the equation.
E. Run – when we are near our limit; call it quits. Turn in the other direction fast! Don’t worry about what the world says, since we know our limits; avoid or leave. Because that’s the moment we can escape.
How do we run? – quote scripture to ourselves, find scripture that is helpful to us and pray. And also …
F. Embrace accountability – find someone who we can trust to hold us accountable. I don’t mean someone who’s struggling. I am speaking about someone who’s either overcome or not struggling with that issue AND who’s unlikely to be judgemental with us. Invite that person to accompany us.
G. Recognize that God’s got us – so there is a way out. We don’t have to do this on our own. God will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand, so when we think we’re past our natural limits, it is time to turn to God.
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May all we seek be found in Christ