“So far today, I’ve done alright. I’ve not gossiped, and I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or overindulgent. I’m really glad about that. But in a few minutes, Lord, I’m going to have to get up.”
Now that’s an honest prayer, isn’t it? And like the one who prayed it, you and I have to face the fact that given the world is what it is—and given that we are what we are—there are all kinds of opportunities to sin that will come our way each day.
Therefore, we’ve got to look carefully at the situations of our day. That’s the bad news. But the good news is that every temptation to sin that comes your way provides an opportunity to do right!
That’s precisely the idea of 1 Corinthians 10:13 … “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.”
In the midst of temptation, the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. So while we’re going through the testing and trials, our faithful God is totally committed to giving us the means to live well in every tempting circumstance.