Temptation or Trial?

1 Corinthians 10:13: No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Our faithful God always provides a way out that we may be holy, like He is holy. The Greek root used in the word “temptation” also is used to form “trials” in James 1:2-4: Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

What I think this means to us, beloved, is that each temptation or trial we face, we have choices that produce different results:

Choice No. 1: Indulge in the Temptation Result: Sin
When we face any difficult situation — whether it’s an opportunity for immorality, idolatry, greed or whatever — we can walk by the flesh and succumb to the temptation. The result is sin, hurting God, dishonoring the cross and Jesus, harming ourselves and others.

Choice No. 2: (Take God’s Escape Route) Endure the Trial Results: Refined Faith, Maturity
We always have another choice in difficult situations because God always gives us a way of escape, according to Scripture (and confirmed by experience; I’m sure you can recall moments where God gave you a way out of sin). So we may always choose to walk by the Spirit and escape sin and its detrimental effects, choosing to endure the trial. And James 1:2-4 tells us if we’ll endure the trial:

The trial tests our faith. It purifies, refines, strengthens our faith. (And the author of Hebrews says in 11:6 that it’s impossible to please God without faith.) The trial moves us toward perfection, completion. We are matured through trials.

Set 1 Corinthians 10:13 in your heart. Follow this truth to refined faith, maturity and pleasing God.