"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able: but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13
Perhaps you know this "red stone" verse from memory. But have you ever dared to believe that for the sincere follower of Jesus Christ there
is no such thing as too much temptation? The first bright facet of this "stone" to catch any one's eye is the fact that God reminds us that we are not "special cases." Our temptations vary with our backgrounds and environments, but if we are completely honest, no temptation has taken us which is not common to many, many other people. So, at the outset, God gently but firmly reminds us that we are not "special cases" causing Him to bring out little-used grace just for us.
However, I [Eugenia Price, the author] am perfectly willing to admit that this fact, realistic as it most certainly is, would not be enough to keep me free from the danger of succumbing to my pet temptations! Had Paul stopped with the factual reminder that basically we're all alike, it would not have been enough for most of us. In fact, to be reminded in the midst of battling our biggest temptations that we are just like a lot of other people, usually makes us more apt to yield to the temptation.
There is something in us which doesn't want to be thrown into a barrel with all the rest of human nature. God knows this. And so Paul goes on, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to add that God is faithful. This is my authority for declaring to myself and to you that for followers of Jesus Christ there is no such thing as too much temptation! The reason is very simple, and it holds good for us all. There is no such thing as too much temptation because:
"GOD IS FAITHFUL, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."
However, I [Eugenia Price, the author] am perfectly willing to admit that this fact, realistic as it most certainly is, would not be enough to keep me free from the danger of succumbing to my pet temptations! Had Paul stopped with the factual reminder that basically we're all alike, it would not have been enough for most of us. In fact, to be reminded in the midst of battling our biggest temptations that we are just like a lot of other people, usually makes us more apt to yield to the temptation.
There is something in us which doesn't want to be thrown into a barrel with all the rest of human nature. God knows this. And so Paul goes on, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to add that God is faithful. This is my authority for declaring to myself and to you that for followers of Jesus Christ there is no such thing as too much temptation! The reason is very simple, and it holds good for us all. There is no such thing as too much temptation because:
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