Some food for my thoughts...and maybe for yours too.

This morning I was reading in 1 Corinthians 10 and found several things that were not necessarily new but are just good things to absorb and then be reminded of again, and for me be reminded of a  few times after that. 

Verses 12 and 13 talk about temptation. An interesting and wonderful metaphor was presented by a comentator regarding temptation-"Temptation works like rocks in a harbor; when the tide is low, everybody sees the danger and avoids it.  But Satan’s strategy in temptation is to raise the tide, and to cover over the dangers of temptation. Then he likes to crash you upon the covered rocks." Oh how true this is! How often are we enticed and tempted to sin based on the things that are attractive but then slammed over the rocks once we have given in? For me personally, this is so true with the temptation of food. Eating and body image has been a struggle of mine since I was early in my teens. What started out as just wanting to be healthy grew out of control by the time I was 17. God has brought healing and restoration to my life but food and the role it plays in my life is a consistent battle I fight even today. So, to go with the metaphor...how often do I give in to that piece of cake because I KNOW it will taste so good but then once it is in my stomach I begin to feel guilt and anger at myself for consuming all those unnecessary calories? Sometimes too often. Everyone's battle and temptation is different but the metaphor rings true for all. This is what the verses say "So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 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 out so that you can stand up under it." (NIV). Here is another great visual for you--when Satan knocks on the door of my heart I send Jesus to answer the door.  When Satan sees Jesus, he says, ‘OOPS, sorry, I must have the wrong house. I wish I could claim this as my own thought but, unfortunately, I must give credit to some clever internet author as I could not find the reference.

 I don't know about you but I am a worrier and I get overwhelmed very easily at times. The dramatic woman in me often questions how much more I can take. How refreshing to be reminded that God does not let Satan come into our lives in a way we can not handle. But how difficult to remember that God will provides the way out but we must seek Him in order to find it. I epicly fail at this much of the time...just ask my husband :-).

The other thing from 1 Corinthians 10 that stuck out to me were verses 23 and 24. I am sure many have heard them, especially in reference to food and alcohol. It says this, "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial." Let me interrupt for a second to say that in other translations besides the NIV the work lawful is substituted for the word permissible. Back to the scripture, "Everything is permissible (or lawful)--but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."