“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 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 Cor 10:12-13)
I was out for a jog this week, and suddenly noticed that I was running through a large patch of bees, hundreds of them swarming at ground level, feeding on something that had fallen from the trees.
I was anticipating painful stings, but none came. The moment that all was clear, I thought, “Wow….I must be doing something right, I must be under God’s blessing, no stings!” Do you know what happened next? Yes, and it hurt. My mistake was the subtle “I” in my thinking. Pride comes before a fall (Prov. 16:18). “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!” (1 Cor 10:12-13)
On these truths I was thinking as I jogged back on the same path. It was a good time of reflection and prayer. As I ran and thought and prayed, I forgot about those bees. I’ve forgotten things before, a strength of mine. This time, however, when I was suddenly in the midst of the stinging warriors, I cried out, “HELP, Lord, only by your grace am I going to escape this again.”
I took a leap to the side and avoided the stingers, much like God has so often enabled me to do with the sting of temptation. It worked, God provided a way out. No stings. Thanks, Lord.
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