1 Corinthians 10:13 Devotional

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

Do you ever feel alone in the struggles of your life? Do you have a secret sin that would destroy you if anyone found out? What would you say if you knew everyone dealt with those same secret sins?

Paul knows that one of Satan’s greatest tools against believers is isolation. If he can cause us to feel alone and trapped in our sin, then we will begin to lose our hope in God’s promises and presence.

Nobody knew this more than the Corinthian church believers. Surrounded by the evils and temptations of the pagan greek world, many felt torn between their secret pleasures and the life God was calling them to live in their faith. To give the Corinthians hope, Paul reminded the Corinthians to stand firm, knowing that nothing they were struggling with was theirs alone.

In fact, Jesus Himself faced all the same temptations that we have:

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin.
Hebrews 4:15

What great news for those who follow Jesus! There is nothing we experience that He has not also felt. Yet Jesus overcame all of the temptations, and in His power, we can also see freedom from even the darkest sin and temptation. But this power can only come when the body of Christ stands in unity and transparency, walking together in faith and encouraging each other to bear all evil and temptation.

Questions For Reflection on 1 Corinthians 10:13

#1 What is that secret sin that you’ve kept hidden for so long? What would happen if you stepped out in faith, admitted your sin to your brothers and sisters in Christ, and walked with them in new freedom?

#2 Think through the fact that Jesus was tempted in every way that you have been. With that knowledge, how does that change how you view your sins, fears, and temptations?

Prayer

Lord God, forgive me for my sins. Help me to know the areas where I have lacked in my faith in You and Your goodness toward me. I am amazed at Your ability to have lived in flesh and walked the earth in all the same temptations that we have faced, yet never sinned. Now your righteousness is given to me freely! Thank You for this amazing gift, Lord God. Help me to follow You with holiness, hope, and faith!