GOD IS FAITHFUL

“There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1^st Corinthians 10:13)

Whatever temptation we may face, know that others have, and are, facing the same. Lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and the pride of life, grasps at each of us and attempts to hold on. However, GOD is faithful, “He will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able…” God will not leave you alone to be tempted above that which you are able to bear. We should never be so presumptuous to say, “I can handle this temptation on my own.”

“I need thee every hour most gracious LORD… Stay Thou nearby; temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.” Annie S. Hawks (1872)

GOD is faithful to not leave us alone during temptation but will with the temptation make a way of escape that we may bear it. That way of escape may look different than the one we desire. In Matthew 4, the temptations themselves were not taken from Jesus. After fasting for forty days and nights, Jesus was at a point of starvation. After responding to Satan, Jesus was still at a point of starvation.

How then did GOD provide a way of escape?

It was essential that Jesus die, not of starvation in the wilderness, but just as the scripture foretold. Jesus knew that all things written concerning Him must be fulfilled. After His resurrection, Jesus said, “These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning Me. Luke 24:44 (Read Luke 24:45-49)

The way of escape provided for Jesus was a remembrance of GOD’S word. Therefore, rather than yielding to the fleshly desire, Jesus said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”  Matthew 4:4

Jesus knew what the word of GOD said, therefore, no matter how close His physical body may have been to death in the wilderness, He escaped by trusting in GOD’S faithfulness to His word.