Irvin Wasswa- Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC
1 Corinthians 10:12-13
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, 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.
Overconfidence is a real thing if you did not know. I experienced the reality of that truth a few weeks ago in my own life. Up to a few weeks ago, I had never been in any kind of automobile accident. I may have hopped a curb once or twice, but besides that my accident record was clean as a whistle. Due to that reality, I saw an unhealthy rise in confidence in my ability to drive. As a matter of fact, my confidence really grew into overconfidence. For instance, due to my impeccable driving record, I thought that I was invincible and would never fall victim to getting into an accident. I thought I could multitask without having any kind of incident. I mean, I thought I was invincible! Well… sure enough I was humbled a few weeks ago, as I ended up getting into two different accidents in a span of 4 days. The first accident was me backing into my garage door. The second accident was backing into a parked vehicle while trying to maneuver my way around a narrow street. How embarrassing! Both of the incidents happened because I was being careless due to my overconfidence as a driver.
The danger of overconfidence can be said to be true for the Christian as well. If we are not careful, because of what we have done for the church or because of how long we have been a Christian, in this life we can feel as though we are immune to falling into sin. You may not verbally admit that, but in your heart you may have thought that before. You know all the worship songs, you have a good bit of bible verses memorized, so that extra look at that illicit website is no problem in your mind; that little word of gossip is “no big deal.” It’s no problem for you to go out drinking with your buddies like the old times because, “there’s no way you would become an addict.” The danger of overconfidence.
This was the issue with the Corinthian church in chapter 10. They thought because they were in Christ, not only were they free from sin, but also incapable of falling into the sin trap of addiction, and idolatry. It has been said that we all are one step away from stupid. The reality is that we are free from the bondage of sin due to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ! In Him we are free, but that doesn’t mean we are immune to falling into temptation. Listen, as a child of God we are victors, but that doesn’t mean we are not immune to falling victim to the vice grips of sin addiction. We are not invincible. As we see throughout scripture, though we are saved (and always saved by the way John 10:27-28), we are still at war with a real enemy named Satan who is looking to steal, kill and destroy you. Though we know he is a defeated foe (1 Corinthians 15), we must be wise and vigilant, realizing we still have this ol’ flesh, and we look to gratify the old self.
For us today the call is to not be overconfident as a Christian, but to be humble before the Lord, knowing that we are only able to stand for Him when we choose to sit at His feet every single day. Today choose to humble yourself! Instead of flirting with temptation from the enemy, choose to flee from it and run to the Father (1 Corinthians 10:13).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Heavenly Father Lord, thank you for who You are! Thank you for making us victors over sin and death in You. Help me to day to be wise, understanding that there is a real enemy who is looking to destroy my life. Help me to humble myself today and choose to flee temptation and submit to You. Amen.
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence