When you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Cor. 10:13)
A few times in my life I’ve felt trapped—like I couldn’t be who God created me to be in my current situation, and yet I also couldn’t figure out how to free myself from that situation. What I’ve learned, though, is that when I’m patient, God eventually shows the way for me to take the next steps of spiritual growth.
In warning the Corinthians about idolatry, Paul never denied the strength of the temptation to trust someone or something other than God. He said that sometimes we will feel trapped with no way out, so much so that we are tempted to switch loyalties or take matters into our own hands. Yet, Paul said that if we remain present and aware in the situation, God will be with us in the temptation and provide a way out so that we won’t be overcome by it.
A powerful idol for many of us is our self-image, including how we look, our social status, our educational achievements, our career, our success, and so on. Yet this self-image is not truly indicative of who we are in Christ. When Paul urges us to “flee from idolatry,” part of what he means is to give up our striving to be seen as “successful” in this world so that we can live in the freedom of our true and holy nature in Christ.
Release your false self-image to become your true self in Christ.
Kevin R. Scott is a pastor, author of ReCreatable: How God Heals the Brokenness of Life, and editor for Wesleyan Publishing House. He lives with his family in middle Tennessee.
© 2022 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
