A Winning Strategy

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

"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." (v. 12-13)

There are many differences that can be found between a man and a woman. It is said that the typical women would like to talk out their problems in hopes to find a solution. They would talk to others about their problems as they work through them. Men on the other hand prefers to keep it to themselves. They would ponder their problem and attempt to find a solution. It is only when they discovered the solution would they begin to discuss it with others. This is one of the reasons why a man would get into a trouble with a woman for not being open. It is why some of us men get into trouble for not stopping to get directions when we are lost.

Although this may be a general truth between men and women, I believe we all have some things in our lives where we are determined to solve the problem ourself and not be willing to ask for help. Unfortunately, these decisions all have consequences.

Temptations are areas in our lives where we can have severe consequences if we are not careful. Most of us fall into the temptation and sin usually for two reasons: 1) we were overconfident in ourselves; and/or 2) we we did not seek help.

Overconfidence can be dangerous because it usually leads to carelessness. We should indeed have faith that we can overcome, but it is only through the strength of the Lord. It is when we accept His Spirit in us and be strengthened when we can have the confidence of overcoming temptations. However, our faith in Him, also means that we need to be careful. There are times when it is best to flee from temptation to avoid sin.

In 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 we are given hope that God will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear and that He will provide us a way out. We are reminded of us many times to give us hope. However, we often times forget the key point. We will not be tempted beyond what we cannot bear, not that we can solve it on our own. In fact, it is emphasized in the next sentence that He will provide us a way out. In other words, we must be dependent on Him. We need to pray to God, trust in Him, and be still to hear Him. It is through Him when we can overcome temptation.

Let us therefore fix our eyes on Him, and when the waves come not worry because our strength comes from the Lord and He will protect us and keep us from harms way.

Honesty and Kindness

Exodus 23:1-13

"Do not spread false reports. Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness. Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit. If you come across your enemy's ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with it. Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or hones person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous." (v. 1-8)

When I was younger I was very thin. My mother would worry and always insisted that I had more to eat. Some girls were envious because my waist were smaller than theirs. After I got married, and especially after children, I put on some weight. I now have the reverse problem, and working on losing it. However, as I returned to my "stomping grounds" when I was younger I met a friend who simply did not recognize me, and immediately blurted out "You're fat!!!" I could not deny the truth, but the two simple words were very sharp and very hurtful. They immediately recognized how unthoughtful it was, but it was already too late - the damage has been done.

Then I recall when a friend had recognized that I had my pants zipper open and part of my shirt showing through. After an hour or two of walking around in the city, we encountered another friend who simply asked if I were hot, kindly informing me of my open zipper. My first friend knew about the little issue, but was more concerned about my feelings and therefore could not sure the truth of the matter.

Most people do not want to befriend those are not truthful. We typically steer away from those who simply cannot be honest with us because we would always question their intent. On the other hand, we do not want to fellowship with those who are not honest, but are sharp with their words. Conveying honesty can be done in many ways. Although one without the other may be somewhat beneficial, but it can also be more harmful. In fact, one cannot operate appropriately without the other: if one is honest, but unkind, could it not sometimes lead us to question whether it is the truth; and if one is kind, but dishonest, would you not question their kindness? The combination of honesty with kindness completes the person who rely on and enjoy being around. It is in fact a law given to us as Christians. Let us therefore learn to walk in truth and kindness.

Strategic Retreat

Genesis 39

"She caught him by his cloak and said, 'Come to bed with me!' But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.'" (v. 12)

In war, there are many strategies that are taught in terms of the art of war. In fact, many famous statements are used when it also comes to life. For example: "we may have lost the battle, but we will win the war." Another one that has better relevance is "to run away today so we can fight another day." There is such things as a "strategic retreat." If we know that the odds are stacked against us, then it is best to pull away, regroup our thoughts, and then return to improve our odds. We especially do not head towards trouble if we know it may harm us. After all, a sailor does not head towards seas if his instruments indicate an oncoming storm.

Similarly, we need to sometimes strategically retreat when there is temptation we know that we cannot overcome. In fact, we should steer away from them when there are indications of them. Growth doesn't necessarily come from weathering through it. Often times it is best to immediately run away from it, so we can prepare for it so when we cannot avoid it we will be stronger. After all, there are some temptations where we can easily fall into sin and it can grow immensely immediately like lighting a spark in a very dry forest. Let us therefore learn to "run away from temptation today so we can fight another day."

Joy in the Lord

Genesis 41:46-57

"It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering." (v. 52b)

Too often we believe and act as if it is the end of the world when we are faced with trials and tribulations. When difficulties arise, we sulk in our misery. We sometimes enjoy surrounding ourselves with others who are suffering, and may even attempt to argue who has it worse.

Joseph on the other hand depended on God. He placed His faith in Him. He believed the earlier dreams he had received in God, and in times of trouble he continued to have faith in Him. In doing so, God provided opportunities he would probably not received otherwise. However, these opportunities only came after he was sold as a slave and then thrown into jail. Even through these adversities, Joseph placed his faith in God.

Similarly, we too should always seek His face. We should not let the sufferings depress us. If we hold on to the promise that God has given us (our eternal life with Him where we will have a new body in a new land and without any sufferings), then as Joseph we can overlook the current sufferings, especially if opportunities will be provided. Let the joy of the Lord be complete in us by putting our faith in Him and not let the tides of momentary events sway our emotions.

His Way

Matthew 26:36-46

"Then he said to them, 'My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.' Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'" (v.38-39)

Jesus knew the events to become and the time it will take place. How difficult it must've been to know that He was about to bear all the sins of men throughout time. He was to betrayed and rejected by His creators, only to be crucified not because of what He had done, but because of his betrayers. It was so burdensome that He Himself indicated His "sorrow to the point of death."

However, He did not run away. Even when His closest, His disciples, were asleep and was of no comfort in His sorrow, He remained. Although it was very difficult, His love for us was greater. And in the midst of His sorrow, He turned to the Father through prayer. He submitted to the Father allowing HIs will be done.

We too must submit to the Father, especially in the times of difficulties. Instead of burying our head into the sand, we should pray and have faith in Him. His love will prevail, so let us allow His will be complete in us and through us.

His Junior

2 Corinthians 3:1-6

"You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." (v. 2-3)

In college, I had a roommate who had a very distinctive laugh. I could hear his laughter down the hall because it was so unique and carried for a distance. As we became good friends, I was later told that I was his junior. They claimed that my laughter has changed to become more like his. As time went on even after college, I had become aware how my laughter would change with those who are closest around me.

It is amazing how we all begin to "imitate" various behaviors of those closest to us. As we do, people take notice of the similarities. Isn't that what makes "best friends"?

Well, this is very true for us as sons and daughters of God. Have we become imitators of Christ, so that the world may see Him through us? Are we not the example of Christ Himself? Have we become His junior?

One Who Loves Us

Romans 8:28-39

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerers through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (v. 35-39)

Wow! What an amazing passage from the Bible. This Scripture is well known. However, how deep have we explored these words. Typically we can feel great about the love that is given to us. It is an amazing love. However, do we spend time to trace this love back to God. Is it just the love that we focus on, and not the One who is loving us? In fact, have we not heard that God IS love.

Unfortunately, we separate the two. Most of us find comfort in the love, but forgets who is loving us. The last verse is the key, "love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord". Through the sacrifice of the Son of God do we find agape (unconditional) love. It is through His death and resurrection that makes such love possible to be "untouched" by anything and made available to all. All that is left is to accept it and embrace it. It is then when we can truly experience the love of God.

Through His Strength

2 Chronicles 16:1-13

"...'Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.'" (v. 7-9)

Whenever difficulties arise, it is so easy to attempt to resolve it ourselves. We will work on it through the sweat of our brows. We may be successful, but at what cost? We may also face down at the issue, and easily become angry or depressed over it. These are all problems either because it shifted our priorities, or we expended our energies on it to leave no strength for others, or we may in general have a wrong attitude about it. If any of these are true, then we are sinning against God.

The main problem with relying on our strength and not of the Lord is that this is a display of either (or both) hiding something or lacking faith in Him. In all circumstances, whether big or small, it should first be given to the Lord. As in a special relationship, we want the other to share everything with us, so to does our Lord. This is not to say that we should not work on the issue, especially when a simple solution is staring us in the face. It is primarily about first giving it to the Lord, and trusting Him. Sometimes those easy solutions may not be the correct action to take either. By putting our faith in Him, we will have His infinite strength. Therefore, let us rely on Him. In all circumstances, let us first give it to Him, rely on His strength, and find pure joy in it.