Escaping Temptation
1 Corinthians 10:1–13
But with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape. 1 Corinthians 10:13
The way of escape is different in different kinds of temptations. First, there are the sins of the flesh. When we think of fleshly sins, we think of drunkenness, overeating, and sexual sins. Yet there are other sins in that category that we do not think of so often, such as laziness. What is the solution? The way of escape for these sins is simply to flee from them. There are some things that we simply must face by running away. If you are an alcoholic, you must stay away from bars. If you are lazy, you must get yourself away from the television set. If you are tempted to sexual sins, you must simply remove yourself from the place of temptation. It is as simple as that.
Second, there are temptations that come to us from the world. These are temptations that come to us in order to make us conform to the world’s value system. We fall into this whenever we find ourselves striving to be important, whenever we want to be the one who is most noticed. The way of escape for this type of temptation is found in Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God.” This tells us that the cure for worldliness is by being gradually transformed from within by the renewing of our minds as we feed upon the Word of God.
Third, some temptation comes to us from the devil or, more likely, by demonic influence. How do you overcome the devil? The answer is found in James 4:7: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” There are two key words in that verse. The first is “submit,” the second is “resist.” If we are to submit ourselves unto God, we must consciously submit our will to his will. That is to be done largely through prayer. On the other hand, resisting is to be done through using the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit. So these two things, prayer and Bible study, are to be central in our lives if we are to be able to resist temptation from this demonic source.
God has provided a way of escape in temptations, and these are the primary provisions: the Word of God and the privilege of coming to him in prayer. When we learn to pray, as the Lord Jesus Christ prayed, and when we know Scripture and learn to apply it as the Lord Jesus Christ applied Scripture, then we will be victorious in our temptations. And glory will come, not to feeble men and women, but to God, “who is faithful.”
Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865
Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.