THE KING’S BUSINESS
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take heed lest he fall.” But, on the other hand, we must not be discouraged either because so many have fallen or because so many temptations surround us. While we should not put any trust in ourselves, there is one in whom we may trust; that is God, for “God is faithful.” Faithful means, one in whom confidence can be put. We cannot put any confidence in ourselves, but we can put unlimited confidence in Him, and He will never betray our con fidence. His faithfulness is set forth in verse 13 as particularly manifested in the way in which he protects his own from any temptation that would prove too strong for them. Our temptations may seem very great, but we have God’s own Word for it that “no temptation” shall overtake us “but such as man can bear.” Further than this, we have God’s own guarantee for it that He will not permit us “to be tempted above that we are able.” If some fierce temptation has come to us, we may be sure that strength sufficient to meet that temptation will be supplied of God. Many a man says I must give way to this temptation, it is more than I can bear, but God says to him, that is to everyone who has received Jesus Christ, it is not more than you can bear; I will not permit you to be tempted above that you can bear. The fact that you are thus tempted proves that you. are able to bear it. Furthermore, God promises, that He will with each and every temptation “make also a way of escape.” To any one who has a due sense of his own weakness and the manifold temptation with which he is -surrounded this is one of the most precious promises of the Word of God. Many hesitate to stfirt the Christian life because of their own weakness. They fear they may encounter some temptation which will be beyond their strength, but in the light of verse 13, no man need entertain such a fear. No one need hesitate to start in the Christian Life because of his own weakness or because of the temptations he may encounter; for here is God’s promise, just for him, “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that
the warning, but many such have fallen. Note Paul’s word with which he warns these in verse 12: “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” We all do well to heed the word. (4) They “tempted the Lord” (Num. 21:5, 6 ). This is a very common sin today. God showed His hot displeasure for their tempting Him by their complaining, by sending fiery serpents among them and He is just as much dis pleased today, even if He has other ways of showing His displeasure. (S) They “murmured.” This they did at God’s judg ment upon Korah and his company (Num. 16:41-49). No sin is-more common today than murmuring at God’s methods of deal ing with sin as revealed in His Word. How many there are, even among ministers of the Gospel, who do not hesitate to take a fiing at what Scripture reveals of God’s purpose regarding the punishment of sin. It is “too harsh” they say. That is exactly what Israel said regarding the punishment of Korah, and they “were punished by the destroyer.” Walk softly, man, in the mat ter of murmuring against God. “All these things happened unto them by way of example.” “They are written for our admo nition.” Let us lay them to heart. There are those who would have us today study only the New Testament. They think the Old Testament is out of date, but here we find the New' Testament declaring that these Old Testament sins and the accom panying judgments of God were written to be an example to us and an admonition to us. Wise indeed is he who deeply pon ders and lays to heart the things that God has caused to be written for our admoni tion. Thursday, Nov. 8 . i Cor. 10 : 12 , 13 . The fact that “all” Israel enjoyed such exalted privileges and yet “some” fell, after all, should be a warning to us not to be self-confident because of either our.priv ileges or our attainments. The one who thinks that he least needs to be on his guard, is the one who is in the greatest danger: “Let him that thinketh he standeth
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