Encouragements for our troubled times No. 38
COVID-19 Series | Date: 10 December 2020
The Elders and Deacons want to encourage the members and those who regularly meet with us through this weekly letter. If you have news which you would be happy to share with the fellowship or request for prayer, then please let us know.
A message from our Pastor
1 Corinthians 10:13
“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."
Although many are already rejoicing at the end of the pandemic, we still have some way to go before it is over and our lives can get back to some sort of normality. The truth is, we may still be under some sort of restrictions well into next year. This may disappoint us or even cause us to despair. How can we carry on? Will we be able to hold on? Well, our text today, assures us that we can.
Firstly, we have to understand that the word temptation is not limited to sin but refers to anything that would induce us to doubt or defy our God. Also, anything that would cause us to fail to live to the glory of our God or to enjoy Him and our new life in Him. Secondly, we have to understand that these temptations are not unique to us as individuals but are common to man. We are not being singled out or particularly hard done by, everyone experiences these temptations, even our Lord was tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. Because we live in a fallen world, amongst fallen men and are human we are prone to the same temptations as everyone. In fact, we are allowed to go through them to test us and try our faith, and in doing so we show to the world how true Christians face these things in Christ.
But our God is faithful, and we can rely upon Him. He is with us and watches over us, and our faithful God “will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able.” Our God knows each one of us. He knows exactly what we are able to bear in His strength. And He will not allow us to fall into any temptation which He knows we cannot cope without Him. Why would He? He doesn’t want to break us or ruin us. He only desires to improve us, prove His love to us, and show us that His grace is sufficient for us and that His strength is made perfect in us and to us in our weaknesses. Therefore, we can be sure that our faithful Heavenly Father will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear or cope with by His grace and in His strength.
Our faithful God will, not only not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able, but “with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” Not how the Apostle put this, “but with the temptation.” When the temptation is allowed to come upon us, He has already provided a way of escape. In fact, He does not allow a temptation to come upon us without the provision of a way of escape. It may take time to acquire the means of escape but we can be sure that our ever-faithful Father has already provided it so that we are able, in Him, to bear with the temptation
Things may look bleak at present but although “weeping may endure for a night,” we can be sure that “joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).