PRaP 7-22-2005

"Did You Know?"

As we go into the weekend and most of us don't work on Saturday or Sunday,
but whenever your weekend is, temptation seems to "ramp up". It seems to
me that I am tempted more on my days off from work then when I am at work.
My Grandmother used to tell me all the time that idle hands are an opening
for the work of the devil. I think she was referring to those times we
stop seeking to be with God. I know when I am at work I am with God all
day long because I know that I cannot do it without Him. But on the
weekends during those times that I am resting, temptation creeps in. Used
to be in my B.C. days (Before Christ) I would be headed to the bar for my
Friday wind the week down drink. Then I would go home clean up and head to
the club for party time. Even today those temptations are very real for
me, especially in those times that I am home alone. It doesn't help when
these clubs go around and put flyers on your car announcing a grand opening
of a new local pub and leave you a free drink card. Even though I have
been sober and I mean completely sober for about 7 years now, I still am
tempted. But this morning I was reminded of something as I was reading my
morning scriptures. God is with us during these times of temptation. God
will not allow any temptation to come before you that He thinks you can't
handle. Even if you do slip He always gives you an out. 1 Corinthians
10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God
is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But
when you are tempted, He will also provide a way so you can stand up under
it. So my question is, "Did you know that God loves us so much that even
when temptation is upon us He is standing there with His hand extended to
lead us out?" If you do not have a real relationship with Christ, I ask,
"Why not?" The benefits surely outweigh the negative. For me I see no
negative in my relationship with Him. The only trouble that is in my
relationship with Christ is that of my own doing, my own failure, my own
sin. But every time I fall He is there to pick me up. Every mistake I
make He is there to lift me up and to correct me. It is with love that He
does these things for us. One more question and I will leave you alone.
"Did you know that God so loves the world that He gave His one and only Son
to die on a cross for your sin?"

PRaP 1 Corinthians 10:1-13