1 Corinthians 10:12

New International Version (NIV)

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

For meditation

“Bring it on”, the young man said. “I am not one of your statistics. I know better not to fall for your Delilah antics.” And so he bluffed his way through. However, the young woman took the challenge. One innocent move led to another, and she tightened the noose around the young man’s neck – subtle and unnoticed. Like a ship wrecked and abandoned in the sea, constantly assaulted by the angry waves and salty waters, and the power of attrition concealed in their wake; the young man’s resistance weakened. Pretty soon, he was hanging on the rope in the young lady’s hands, dancing to her tune. What happened to the “mature Christian” who couldn’t be added to the young woman’s, “Chronicle of Fallen Victims” in her closet (Prov. 7:26-27)?

1. Hasn’t this story been told many times over the years and around the world? Haven’t the “strong” been overpowered by the “weak”, but seductive woman?
2. Can we ask father Abraham (Gen. 16:1-2), Uncle Lot (19:32-35), Cousin Judah (38:13-19), Samson (Judges 16:4-21), and David (1 Sam. 11:1-5) what happened to them? Why do you think Solomon devoted the first nine chapters of Proverbs to the importance of wisdom and the need to embrace her guidance and counsel against temptation?
3. But, does anybody listen? If the roll were called today, do you know the surprises that may come very close to our doors? So, are we that helpless? “Is there no balm in Gilead” (Jer. 8:22)?
4. What then is the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the believer? How can His overcoming power (Eph. 1:19-21) work in us, if we don’t listen to His counsel and teaching, heed to His warnings, and yield to His authority? What’s the use of a doctor to the sick, if they would not listen and take their prescribed medicine?
5. When the Spirit of God invites us to embrace wisdom through the pen of Solomon (Prov. 8:1-9:12) and James (James 1:5), why don’t we listen? When the Spirit tells us to flee (2 Tim. 2:22), why do we stand there as though we have any power apart from Him? Why do we play the hero and ultimately become the victim like Samson and our young man in the opening story?

I pray we will listen to the Spirit’s warning in today’s scripture that comes through Israel’s history: “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Cor. 10:12). He adds a caution to this in Galatians 6:1 that deserves our attention.

So: May we put on the whole armor of God in these evil days so that we can stand our ground against the enemy and not fall (Eph. 6:13). May we also not play with fire by deceiving ourselves to be strong when we are not (Gal. 6:3), but to run when we have to; for that could be the way God has provided for our escape (1 Cor. 10:13).

Remember: “In all these things we are more than conquerors [only] through Him who loved us”, Christ Jesus our Lord (Rm. 8:37). To Him be glory, amen!

Shalom