31 October | EVERYONE
«Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; 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.» 1 Corinthians 10: 12,13
Life is a dangerous road, full of hairpin bends and treacherous holes. The driver needs to keep his eyes wide open, and his soul awake in order to avoid mishaps on the road. Drivers who were considered skilled and experienced have met a tragic end because of a moment of carelessness.
In a similar way, as we see in today’s text, Paul warns against overconfidence. No one is skilled enough in life to have the luxury of resting on their laurels, believing that defeat belongs only to the weak and incapable.
All of us, eventually, will encounter trials and temptations that could make us fall. When something like this comes into our lives, let us remember that, although they may seem so, they will never be superhuman situations; and that, in the midst of them, God will accompany us so that we can overcome them. Let us insist, once again, that God’s promise is not that by following God there will be no problems, but that He will be by our side when there are.
My oldest son was three years old when he had to get an injection. The nurse came in, needle in hand, and told him, smiling, that it would not hurt, but he looked at me anxiously, asking if what the nurse was telling him was true or not. I shook his hand and whispered in his ears, “Son, you are going to be in a little pain, but I am here with you, we will face the pain together.”
Take Action
That is what God is saying to you right now: “My son, you are not alone. I am with you, and together we will face this difficulty.” Isn’t that a nice promise? Face the trial or temptation with the certainty that, in Christ, you will be victorious! Sing “Take Heed Lest He Fall” (if possible, with your family).