John 13:36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
For the Christians to resist the temptation to be self-reliant, they must first understand they are vulnerable. The one who thinks he stands will not stay on guard against temptation, so he may easily fall. “The highest saint under heaven can stand no longer than he depends upon God and continues in the obedience of faith. He that ceases to do so will fall into sin, and get a darkened understanding and a hardened heart.” (Clarke)
We often want to excuse our particular tempting circumstances as “very unique” and a “special exception,” but God reminds us that our temptation is not unique. Many other men and women of God have faced the same or similar temptation, and have found the strength in God to overcome the temptation. God has promised to supervise all temptation that comes at us through the world, the flesh or the devil. He promises to limit it according to our capability to endure it – according to our capability as we rely on Him, not our capability as we rely only on ourselves.
With Jesus and God’s Word in your heart, when worldly temptations come knocking at the door to your heart from Satan or self, allow Jesus and the Word of God answer the door. When He is first in your heart and when God’s Word abides in your heart, your eye and ears will be able to recognize these temptations that bombard us every waking moment. We never know when they will come knocking. Be in His Word and every mindful of these attacks.
