Regardless of the fact of victory over sin in Christ, Christians battle with temptation. Remnants of our sinful flesh come up in varied circumstances, luring us away from new life in Christ and again towards sinful habits (Gal. 5; James 1:12-15). A troublesome workday may tempt us to hunt respite in dishonorable pleasures; scary newscasts may tempt us to hunt sinful management; social media scrolling can tempt us to envy and dishonesty. Whereas our circumstances and wishes differ, the battle towards temptation is common.
The Guarantees of 1 Corinthians 10:13
Fortunately, we aren’t doomed to defeat when going through the temptation to sin. 1 Corinthians 10:13 states, “God is trustworthy, and he won’t allow you to be tempted past your potential, however with the temptation he may even present the best way of escape, that you just could possibly endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13b).
This verse doesn’t promise freedom from experiencing temptation, however slightly from succumbing to it. What are these “methods of escape” the Lord gives? Whereas the Holy Spirit guides us to please God in something we do (Gal. 5:5:15-25), God has additionally given us His Phrase and His individuals to strengthen us towards temptation; He moreover guarantees us knowledge after we ask for it (James 1:5), wherein case He’ll faithfully assist us discern customized and sensible actions we every can take to maneuver away from temptation and the sin it dangles earlier than us.
1 Corinthians 10:13 ensures temptation as a lot because it guarantees God’s faithfulness to assist us keep away from sin. If we will depend on temptation coming our method, wouldn’t it’s clever to preemptively plan an escape route from it? In gentle of this, I’ve developed a easy software to assist Christians craft customized plans to flee temptation using God’s Phrase, God’s individuals, and God-honoring actions. I name it the Temptation PATH.
The Temptation PATH
The Temptation PATH is a primary software that helps individuals assume clearly about their particular temptations and description God-honoring escape routes prematurely, taking the guesswork out of what to do within the warmth of a temptation scenario. When used correctly, it will increase the probability that an individual will resist temptation and keep away from giving in to sin. Every plan is guided by 4 steps utilizing the acronym PATH to light up the escapes that God gives:
1. Understand the Sample
What are the widespread indicators or patterns that precipitate the temptation? These is likely to be feelings, conditions, instances of day, or relational dynamics. Naming these helps us anticipate and put together for temptation. When working with somebody in biblical counseling, exploring the particular person’s coronary heart by way of instruments equivalent to a Coronary heart Journal might be particularly enlightening.[1]
2. Strategy God
What lies am I tempted to imagine when experiencing temptation? What truths from Scripture can reorient my coronary heart towards God? Temptation thrives on forgetfulness; biblical reflection habitually recollects reality. Technique of reflection could embrace particular prayer prompts, Scripture passages, and even worship songs that refocus affection on the Lord. (In biblical counseling, the passages I’ve assigned my counselee for meditation grow to be the premise of this class.) Conserving an index card inscribed with useful reflection prompts with you’ll be able to enable you shortly recall reality in robust moments.
3. Flip to Biblical Group
Who in my life is aware of my battle and is prepared to stroll alongside me? Biblical change occurs within the context of gospel neighborhood. Present names, contact plans, and expectations for potential supporters who’ve agreed to supply particular assist in the warmth of the second or to examine in at key instances of temptation (e.g., “Bob from small group is aware of I’m tempted to get drunk on Friday nights and has agreed to examine in by textual content after dinner. If I’m struggling, he’d like me to name him so we will pray collectively.”). I make the most of advocates in biblical counseling; [2] a spiritually mature good friend, mentor, or fellow church/small group member may also be useful.
4. Honorable Actions
What particular actions can I take when temptation strikes? These are usually not obscure ideas, equivalent to “be a part of a small group,” however slightly focused, tangible steps that lead away from sin within the second of temptation. Actions may embrace reviewing previous assignments accomplished in counseling, happening a prayer stroll (armed with an inventory of particular prayer subjects), exercising on the health club, or cultivating an inventory of particular methods to serve specific people inside one’s church or neighborhood. These actions will fluctuate vastly from individual to individual and might be developed over time.
A Case Examine: Carl’s Temptation PATH
Carl is a younger, single skilled who struggles with nervousness, particularly regarding his efficiency at work and perceived failure in relationships. His temptation is to retreat into isolation and self-pity, after which to spiral into despair and sinful behaviors. Carl and his counselor have developed his Temptation PATH as follows:
- Understand the Sample: Carl struggles most when he will get house from work and spends his evenings alone with nothing particular to do. He eats dinner, turns into lonely and bored, and retreats into ideas of self-pity, resulting in despair. His cycle usually culminates with indulgence in drunkenness or pornography to assuage his despair. He admits that Thursdays are his most anxious workdays; these evenings are thus key instances of temptation.
- Strategy God: Carl’s mentor advised he meditate after dinner on Matthew 6:25-34 and prayer journal particular ways in which God supplied for him that day. Every night, Carl works on memorizing Romans 8:31-39 and critiques a previous counseling task which recollects methods he has skilled God’s faithfulness. Carl can also be writing a psalm to God based mostly upon Psalm 46.
- Flip to Biblical Group: Carl has organized to name his advocate James at 6pm on Thursday evenings. James will pray with him and focus on a plan for a way Carl will use his night. In moments of surprising battle, Carl will textual content James and name Marcus, his small group chief. Each have agreed to ask exhausting questions, remind him of biblical truths, and pray with him.
- Honorable Actions: Carl has recognized a number of actions he can take to keep away from or alleviate temptations after work. The three simplest actions embrace taking a stroll exterior whereas listening to a worship playlist, studying a Christian biography that has been an encouragement to him, and dealing on an ongoing communications venture for his church that makes use of his abilities to profit others. These actions present Carl with “plans” for evenings when he would in any other case have none, and transfer his ideas away from self-pity to reward and repair.
This Temptation PATH doesn’t clear up Carl’s root coronary heart points by itself (although we presume he’s engaged on these in different contexts); it does, nevertheless, equip him to withstand the temptation to despair and self-indulgence in a method that orients him towards God’s guarantees and His individuals, outlining artistic methods of escape particular to Carl’s scenario.
Remaining Ideas
Temptation is just not merely one thing to keep away from; it is a chance to develop. A Temptation PATH can’t take away the battle or heal the problems on the root of our sin, however it will probably assist us dwell out the promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13 in sensible, customized methods as we proceed to develop in Christ.
Questions for Reflection
- Why is it so troublesome in a second of temptation to discern a method of escape?
- How can anticipating moments of temptation and planning methods of escape be useful to you?
- How may you apply the Temptation PATH in your life or within the life of somebody you’re looking for to assist?
[1] If you’re not conversant in a coronary heart journal, an instance might be discovered within the appendix entitled “Getting the Image” in Paul Tripp’s Devices within the Redeemer’s Arms.
[2] For a short article on advocates, see Garrett Higbee, Counseling Collectively: Inviting Buddies into Formal Counseling, Biblical Counseling Coalition, October 12, 2018.
