This section is a little harder to read it is a referencing some events and issues that we can’t really know about, but have to just kind of discern. But, it speaks of idolatry and sounds like it is addressing an issue whereby these Corinthian Christians were mixing some of the pagan worship practices with what Paul had taught them, and they were really starting to distort some of the message and the mission. And we do this too, we twist things and we adapt our practices, but it is so important that we hold to the fundamental truths at the root of our faith.
And Paul speaks of temptation, and he rattles off another one of my favorite verses there in 10:13: 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man (there isn’t anything that I am experiencing that isn’t common, that isn’t experienced my many others...that is comforting for me). God is faithful (isn’t He? I mean, can I really think of a time when God hasn’t done exactly what He says He would do in scripture? No...), and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (and He may allow the temptation to come upon me...but He is there, and He provides a way out, a way to endure...and He wants me to see it as a test, as a rep on the weight machine...He wants me to hang in there to the finish line, to win the race in yesterday’s analogy). Really good stuff. So strong and so encouraging.
And that’s my prayer this morning...that I would be pure in what I belief, in what I hold to in terms of my faith...to the gospel. And I pray that I would be strong in the face of temptation, that I would see temptation as a test, and that in framing it that way I would be motivated to endure it and to overcome it. Frankly, when I see temptation in that way, when I simply get my mind right about it, it loses so much of its power. It is funny how that works.