Take Heed

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Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:12=13 (ESV)

12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Devotion:

            This scripture passage is meant as a warning to both its 1st century readers and to us today that we are in a spiritual battle. As Paul will make perfectly clear in Ephesians 6, we are fighting for our spiritual lives. There is nothing so tragic as to see a child of God who has lived many years in faithful, devoted service to God, suddenly fall into the devil’s trap. They ruin not only their own souls, but they injure many who looked to them as a spiritual mentor and leader.

            These words of Paul’s provide both a warning and an encouragement for us. Paul states that God is faithful not to test us beyond our ability to resist. Even when we are weak in faith God knows us and helps us escape if we will trust in Him. However, it is human nature to try to resist trials and temptations in our own strength. Our own strength and abilities to resist temptation are often not enough. We are much weaker spiritually speaking than we imagine ourselves to be. So, we fall when we operate under our own strength.

            Although this passage does not mention it, we must be ready with the full armor of God that Paul enumerates for us in Ephesians chapter 6. We must realize that we are always engaged in a spiritual battle. We should never be so foolish to think that we can fight this battle without being dressed for it. From the helmet of salvation to shoes of the gospel we must be prepared to fight. Taking the shield of faith and the sword of the spirit the word of God, we are able to stand strong in the battle.

            Also important for our ability to fight, is recognizing that we do not fight the battle alone. We must be in fellowship with other believers. “Lone ranger” Christians can get in serious spiritual trouble without connection with other believers. Other believers help us by encouraging us that we are not fighting this fight by ourselves. Satan, our enemy, loves to divide and conquer Christians. He knows that he is no match for a church that is united in its battle against him. Like any other predator he looks for the weak and injured to take out of action. We must pray for strength to win the battles we face.

Prayer:

            Lord God, hear our prayer today. Keep us in your care so that we will not fall into disobedience by the devil’s temptation. Lord help us stand fully dressed and ready for battle alongside our fellow believers in our daily struggle against Satan. Please God encourage us in our walk with you that we may be faithful warriors in our struggles against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Amen.

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