Testing Is Inevitable

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! (1 Corinthians 10:12)

There are two sides to everyone’s life: the visible side and the invisible side, the side that everybody sees and the side that nobody sees. And what happens on one side can determine the success or failure of the other side. More specifically, how you deal with temptation on one side determines the success or failure of the other side. But we’re going to learn today that temptation can be tamed. But to tame it, we need to look at what Paul has to tell us about temptation and see what we need to keep in mind so that we’re not overtaken by temptation.

Today we’re going to look at the first facet of understanding and overcoming temptation, then we will discuss the other two tomorrow.

First, we need to realize that as humans, we are going to be tested. If you think you are too big for a certain temptation you are already too small to handle it. How many times have we all done the very thing that we never dreamed we would ever do? How many times have we ever said, “I never thought I would be in this position. I never thought I would allow myself to get into this situation”?

You must realize that the areas of life where you think you are the strongest may be the places temptation attacks first. Testing is a given in this life, so we can never get too arrogant thinking that we’re above it. It will happen, and we need to be prepared for when it does.

Dear Father, I realize the only way I am going to overcome temptation and testing is with your help. So I pray that when testing times come my way that you would help me to rely on your power, your strength, and your wisdom to press on through those struggles. Thank you in advance for your help and your guidance. In Jesus’ name, amen.