Thursday, May 7, 2009
A question...
I have a question for you. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, it says "...but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it]." If this is true, then why is there suicide? Puh-lease comment!
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4 comments:
I've wondered this before, too. Here is what I've discovered:
This is true. However, we hinder Him when we are not in the center of our will. When we are selfish, when we are self-focused, when we lose sight of God, we leave ourselves weak and wide open for attacks of the enemy. For that reason we are warned to "put on the full armor of God," [Ephesians 6] to clothe ourselves in Him and His word.
You must notice, too, that it says "when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out, so that you may stand up under it." He does provide a way to avoid the temptation; we just have to open our eyes, recognize it, and seize it. It is a lot harder to avoid temptation than we would think. It takes firmness and commitment and constant prayer.
I've often thought that maybe our words don't say the first part right. Maybe it should be, "who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what He can bear." "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
When temptations come, we are weak. In that moment, we have the opportunity to bring Christ the greatest glory. We fall back into Him and give up on ourselves, putting all our hope and dependency on Him. He will not fail us, because, as it says, "God is faithful."
So, then, if we rely on God and look for the way out and seize that way out, then we may be tempted beyond what we ourselves can bear in our weak flesh, but we will not be tempted beyond what He can bear, and He is within us. If we ignore the way out that He provides, then we prove to be selfish, self-centered, slaves to sin. Just because sin exists and we as followers of God repeatedly fall short and sin, does not mean that it is God's fault. Remember, He gave us free will...He will honor our free will.
Sorry that response is so long :)
thank you so much, Bethany! And no worries, I like your long answer. :)
De rien.
(that means, 'you're welcome' in French)
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