TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13a
Read: 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Listen: 1 Corinthians 10
TODAY’S MESSAGE
In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul includes a section about standing firm when facing temptation. He recognizes temptation is something all humans experience. Every one of his readers will face temptations of some kind. He wants them to realize they may fall, even if they think they are standing firm. He wants them to know they are vulnerable to temptation.
It’s easy for us to think of others in our lives who need to hear this message or assume we don’t. But today, we must recognize our capacity for self-deception. Each of us has the enormous capacity to fall on our face or to wander into a prolonged set of behaviors that will be our undoing. Some of these things might seem more obvious like stealing, killing, having an affair or lying. But other things might not feel as wrong when we are doing them like a self-righteous attitude, simmering resentment, not helping someone when we are called to, jealousy or pride. The deceptive nature of sin is that it often doesn’t feel like sin when we are doing it. Our heart pulls toward these things, and if we are overconfident, we may be spiritually blind to their danger.
Praying about these temptations regularly helps us admit the sin most likely to be our undoing is our own. Praying also invites God to guide us and show us where self-deception may be at work in our hearts. As God helps us conquer one area, we need to keep praying for his help because we may soon struggle in others.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
After praying The Lord’s Prayer, take a moment and tell God about your capacity for temptation. Ask him to guide you away from sin and help reveal overconfidence or spiritual blindness you are not aware of.
40 DAYS OF PRAYER
Join us for 40 DAYS OF PRAYER where all of us will find a quiet space and slowly read The Lord’s Prayer. May forty days of praying like Jesus prayed, and desiring what Jesus wanted, make a big difference in our hearts and our communities.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN
Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.
Today’s reading is Acts 9.
