No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

                                                                                                           1 Corinthians 10:13 

In addition to diligence and faith, Peter instructs us to add virtue, sometimes translated “moral excellence.” Virtue is honesty, integrity, and character. It is what we do when no one else is watching. Virtue is an indispensible part of the Christian life. A virtuous life validates our commitment to love and serve Jesus Christ. Few people will ever care about what we believe if our lives do not match what we profess. This world will always present us with temptation and the opportunity to compromise in this area of our lives (Romans 7:14-25), but God views the development of our character as the utmost of importance if we are to truly make an impact in the culture. So if you are struggling with temptation, today’s verse contains three principles to assist you in dealing with temptation, allowing you to declare victory in the area of virtue. 

Principle #1: Everyone struggles with temptation.

The more transparent we are in our struggle with sin, the more we realize that there are others dealing with the same type of temptations. “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man.” This simply means that opportunities to compromise in the area of virtue are a common theme amongst everyone. We live in the flesh and, although we desire to do what is right, we do not always do the things we want, rather we sometimes find ourselves doing the very things we despise (Romans 15-20). The church is to serve as a place where we can gather with others and receive the support that we need to overcome the enemy. Unfortunately, this is not true of every local group of believers. For this reason, transparency should always be accompanied by discernment. I’m pretty sure the Pharisees would not have made the best support group for the woman caught in adultery (John 8). However, in Jesus, she found the best friend and support system of which she could have ever dreamed. Jesus dismissed her accusers, forgave her, and sent her away to live a more virtuous life than she had previously lived. This is the power of Christ in us! Which leads us to the second principle.

Principle #2: God is faithful and will not allow you to be overwhelmed.

“God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able.” Any temptation that we might face is always under the censorship of God Himself. He will not allow us to be overwhelmed with sin to the point that we cannot recover. Even for those caught in addiction, there is hope in Jesus Christ. God is mindful of our frame and He knows that we are but dust (Psalm 103:14). For believers, Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven and acts as our Great High Priest, meaning that He is our Mediator. And He is able to sympathize with the difficulties of this life because He has walked the same road, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). God understands us and for this reason we can approach His throne of grace with confidence and receive the grace and mercy that we need to conquer sin (Hebrews 4:16). Again, this is the power of Christ in our lives! Which brings us to the final principle.

Principle #3: God is faithful and will provide a way of escape.

Not only will God not allow us to be overwhelmed with temptation, He will also provide a way of escape. Of course the obvious caveat here is that we want to escape. Although there may be situations in the church in which someone refuses to turn from sin (being unrepentant), it has been my experience that most Christians struggling with sin do not want that sin to take root in their lives. This is where the promise that “God will provide a way of escape” is truly invaluable to the believer. If we are serious about living a life of virtue, God will provide ways for us to succeed in being ambassadors for the Savior who need not be ashamed.

Honesty, integrity, character, and virtue; these are indispensible components of the Christian life!

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

                                                                                                                   James 4:7-8