April 8

God is Faithful

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide a way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

None of the trials that we experience in life are unique to us as Christians. But does this scripture say that every trial and temptation will find us successful and victorious? When we go through temptations and trials, even though we call upon the Lord, we are subject to failure. It is easy to cast blame on God and say "Why weren't you there for me? Why didn't you rescue me? You promised you would not give me a trial greater than I could bear!" What we should ask ourselves is "How did I hinder God from working in this trial?" Perhaps rescuing us was not the best answer for our spiritual growth. Could it be our own fault that we failed? Could it be that we are the ones who were unfaithful, not God? In this world where people cast blame on others and no one takes responsibility for their own actions, let not the Christian fall into the same sin and blame God for their failures. God IS faithful: it is we who are not faithful at times. It is we who become preoccupied with the world and remove our gaze from Him. It is we who do not take hold of the outstretched hand extended to us. It is we who have sinned. The promise that God has made here is not that he will remove the temptation, but that the temptation or trial will not destroy us. The Greek implies that we will "bear up under it." It is through Jesus Christ that we will gain the strength to endure. We may fail, but Christ will be there to help us up and give us the strength to go on. Our greatest failures can become our greatest stepping stones to victory. They make us appreciate His grace toward us, which then gives us the determination to be victorious for this Father who loves us so. Let us remember that every trial, every temptation that is placed in our lives has a purpose and that is to make us stronger, to help us to grow, to make us more like Christ. Removing them will not accomplish this in us, but helping us to endure under them will. Our way of escape is to cast ourselves at His feet, to keep ourselves in His presence and to take His outstretched hand and allow Him to lead us through. Only then can we have victory.

Forgive us, Lord, when we fall because of sin or neglect. Give us a humble heart that will reveal our sins to us. Cleanse us from those sins in Jesus. We thank You for the assurance that nothing will come into our path that we cannot handle with You at our side. Bless us with Your presence and draw us to Yourself, even when it must come through trial. We trust You, Father, with our lives. Amen