God's Reasonable Expectations

1 Corinthians 10:13-14 says, “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptations he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.  Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

Paul says, “Flee idolatry,” with all this stuff about how God will help you escape temptation, and how this is not an unreasonable request.  I think to the Corinthians, idolatry may have been one of those sins that were so prevalent in their culture that Christians thought it was going a bit too far to try to avoid them.  In 21^st Century America, these might be premarital sex, immodest clothing, of even “little” things like gossiping, joking inappropriately…

But when God asks us to refrain from these things, he is not being unreasonable; he will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear.  With the temptation he will also provide a way of escape.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®(ESV®), copyright ©2001 by Crossway.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

Stockholm Syndrome

They didn’t watch me, watch me

They left me alone, all alone

Then they came for me, those others

They came and took me with them

It wasn’t long before they pawed on me

It wasn’t long before they played with me

It wasn’t long before they taught me

If I wanted to eat, I’d better be kind

And sure enough, he came along

That one they reported to all the time

He was the on who’d ordered them, ordered them

To take me, shake me, and break me

Pleased to see me, see me

Pleased to feel me, feel me

I pleased his whims and he

He saved my life from them

He was the one I depended on, dependent

He was my protector, defender

He was the only one I came to

He was, he was, he was my life

A little time did pass, it passed

And all the while he was my life

When they finally decided they cared again

I didn’t want to, want to hear from them

I clung to him, he fought for me

They tried to hurt me, hurt me

They tried to, managed to kill him

And now they’ve got me, but

They can’t take my life

Only I can do that