Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Seen Spiritual Battles

1 Corinthians 10v13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.”

Have you ever been tempted? Of course you have. We all know temptation, yet we can feel very on our own when we are tempted. Before the above verse, Paul has highlighted Old Testament examples of people falling in into temptation. We could look at Eve succumbing in the perfect garden, the Israelites succumbing after God’s rescue from Egypt, or David succumbing after being made King: each of them had great privilege from God and yet they fell.

And so, the whole verse says, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

I notice this:

  1. While the spiritual battle of temptation is seen when it comes, we do not foresee it, so Paul tells us to be always on our guard. As Peter says, “Be self-controlled and alert, for the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” In fact temptation comes just when we think things are going well.
  2. Not only do we all suffer temptation, but we all suffer similar temptations. Typically, these temptations are to not trust God and to gratify our desires in an inappropriate way.
  3. God always provides us with a way to come through temptation pure and intact. In the verse above about the roaring lion, Peter gives good advice when he says, “Be self-controlled and alert.” Paul says “self-control” is a fruit of the Spirit, so we need Him. And Jesus tackles temptation by quoting God’s Word, so we need to familiarise ourselves with that too.

Battles are never easy, but God gives us the tools we need. The Spirit’s self-control and the Father’s Word of truth work wonders. May God give you strength for today’s battles and bring your through with bright hope.

With love and blessing,

Roland