Set Free: 21 Day Devotional: Day 7

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13  NIV

Temptation is a fight every believer must endure. Even we, as pastors and church leaders, face this unending battle. As a Lead Pastor, I understand that the struggle of temptation is incredibly real, and its end goal is to take us out.  It breaks my heart to hear about lead pastors and church leaders losing their ministry positions because the fight against sin overwhelmed them. In his book, Dangerous Calling, Paul David Tripp writes, “It is only ever the sin inside of you that draws and hooks you to the sin outside of you. Every day there is a war fought for control of your heart.” Pastors, ministry leaders, church workers, board members, if you’re struggling with the temptation of sin, give it to Jesus, right now, and don’t give in! Don’t let the sinful desire inside of you pull you out of the place God has ordained for you to be. Fight the good fight!

Paul provides us with an answer, more like a declaration, regarding our sin problem. He says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.” My temptation isn’t unique to me because I know many of you have faced the same struggles. So, I can’t feel sorry for myself or start planning my pity party because I feel alone. No, nothing has tempted me that God hasn’t already defeated. In my walk with God, His faithfulness hasn’t or doesn’t spare me from the temptations I face. What it does demonstrate, is that I’m a part of Christ and that God will not permit any hardship or temptation I cannot handle through the strength of Christ.

Lastly, and let’s be honest with ourselves on this. God has, and always will, give us a way out of our temptations. Do we really believe there is a good enough excuse to justify our sin if we give in to temptation? Of course, not. So, when God gives us a way out.....let’s take it!

• Thank God you’re not alone. Pray for a heart that finds comfort in knowing others have walked this path and, by His grace, have overcome it.
• Specifically pray about a current pressure you’re experiencing. Tell God that, due to His Word, you believe this challenge. isn’t more than you can handle with His help.
• Often, the “way out” is subtle - a quiet thought to walk away, a prompt to call a mentor, or a verse that comes to mind. Cultivate spiritual alertness to recognize these exits as they happen.