Facing temptation

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
Every temptation we will ever face in life can be boiled down to one of three, as given in 1 John 2:16 – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. These are the things Satan tempted Eve with in the Garden of Eden: “’For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food [lust of the flesh] and pleasing to the eye [lust of the eye], and also desirable for gaining wisdom [pride of life], she took some and ate it” (Gen. 3:5-6). Satan offers us things that look good, that satisfy our bodiliy desires, or will enable us to get a step ahead. But if it’s taking a short cut, and especially if it goes against the word of God, we are to recognise it for what it is – a temptation that we need to resist.
This verse in 1 Corinthians is a great comfort. We will never be free from temptation as long as we are in this mortal body. But God has given us a promise, and He will keep it: that for the child of God, along with every temptation there is an escape route. And every temptation has been vetted by Him first. He knows what we are capable of resisting in the measure of faith that we have, and He will not let us be overwhelmed. So next time you are tempted, recognise it, and resist it in the power of the Holy Spirit. If it proves to be too much for you, look for the escape route – it’ll be there. The important thing is not to give in.