Paying attention to the exits – 1 Corinthians 10
“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.” (1 Corinthians 10:12–13 NIV11)
How often do you look for the exits in a building? Most of us when never consider them when doing the shopping or when out for a meal.
How do you respond when you’re doing well in your apprenticeship to Jesus? For most of us that’s a blessed time and feels great. Paul says that in precisely this spot we need to be careful. We may become complacent and right there we are in danger of falling through inattention to the challenges of sin and idolatry.
It’s when the building is burning that we need to pay attention to the exits!
Paul describes two types of running away which will keep the Christian safe – one that allows us to escape from temptation and the other that keeps us from finding ourselves tempted. The first is above and reminds us of God’s provision for the tempted saint – namely that He will always provide the opportunity for escape from temptation. The second tells us to find a different place to be so that we aren’t tempted in the first place:
“Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.” (1 Corinthians 10:14)
We have four values here at NewLife that expand on explaining what it means to be living new life for Jesus. They are to be faithful, adventurous, compassionate, and enduring. Our fourth value is in play in the scriptures today. How can we keep going and endure.
To help us unpack Enduring we have some questions that we ask. The first is this, “Where are you weak and in danger of falling away?” This questions assumes that we haven’t arrived until we stand in glory and until then we are all subject to weakness and temptations. The second asks, “Who are you helping run the race to the end?” This question assumes that part of the answer to how we persevere is as Christian community that cares enough to see how our brothers and sisters are going and to stand with them so that they may continue when tempted.
We can all be helped by being wary and encouraged to persevere. When tempted we should remember God’s exit. When we plan our path we should be sure to plot a course away from the temptations of this life – especially of putting anything in God’s rightful place – idolatry.
“Dear Lord, we love You and we are weak. We worship You and are yet short of heaven. Help us to stand up under temptation and to see the joy of the exit that You provide. We thank You that there is full and free forgiveness provided by Your Son our Saviour Jesus. Save us too from being self centred and give us concern for those around us that we might help our brothers and sisters stand. Save us from complacency and refresh our joy in You that we might judge You rightly to be of greater worth than the fleeting joys of sin. Amen.”
Grace and peace,
Stuart.
#newlifeisfoundhere #readingfornewlife
