THE LANDING PLACE

“For no temptation, no trial regarded as enticing to sin, no matter how it comes or where it leads, has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man: That is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear. But God is faithful to His Word and to His compassionate nature, and He can be trusted not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will always also provide the way out, the means of escape to a landing place, that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.” (1 Cor. 10:13, Amplified Bible)

Point One: God personally adjusts and adapts temptation to sin, ensuring it is common to the human experience and bearable. Just as in the time of Job He sets both the type and limits of satan’s attacks.

Point Two: God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability and strength to resist or power to endure. In this He is faithful and can be trusted.

Point Three: God will always provide a way out, an escape to a safe landing place, a strong tower of refuge.

Point Four: We will be – all of us – tempted (to enticed to sin), tried (to test), and assayed (to determine the quality of). God brings us through adversity and affliction in order to encourage and prove our faith and confidence in Him, and conform us, through our growing submission and dependence, into “the image (nature) of His Son.” (Rom. 8:29) Temptation and trials are simply sculpturing tools used by God, the Master Potter, to transform us into vessels of honor fit for Kingdom use.

Point Five: God’s purpose is that we become capable and strong and powerful, that our faith increases and grows strong through use as we bear up under the enemy’s attacks patiently. And, our faith – our shield during bad times -- pleases God who rewards us, as we “diligently seek Him”, with more faith (Heb. 11:6). Temptations and trials not only test, approve and grow our faith, changing us from the inside out, but also grow our power to endure… for we “have need of endurance.” (Heb. 10:36)

Note: Endurance is consistency, perseverance, steadfastness, the capacity to bear up under difficult circumstances, not with passive complacency, but with a hopeful fortitude that actively resists worry, fear, doubt, weariness and defeat.

THE LANDING PLACE

OUR DADDY’S ARMS…

THERE IS NO SAFER PLACE TO BE!