Jesus is the Way Out

In the 80’s there was this weird band called “DEVO”, they wore strange upside-down flowerpot looking hats. They wrote a song called Freedom of choice. The song is musically terrible; this is coming from a guy that has no musical talent. It’s so bad, I’m beginning to wonder if I couldn’t have been a rock star in the 80’s. There are a couple lines from the song that relate to our passage. “Freedom from choice is what you want” – “Freedom of choice is what you got.” I know these lyrics are like a work of art (heavy sarcasm). Paul is challenging the idea that when temptation comes, I don’t have a choice in how I react to it. “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man” (Vs. 13a ESV). Freedom from choice is what I would prefer because then I don’t have to take responsibility for falling for temptation. This is what our heart craves, freedom to not be responsible for our actions. God warns us that “freedom from choice” is our default position but it is not the reality. The reality is that I have “Freedom of choice” and my temptations are within my ability to resist. “That is not common to man” (ESV) - I must choose to resist the temptation. Remember, Paul has been challenging the Corinthian believers’ use of their spiritual liberty. This idea is that I can use my spiritual liberty (the right to exercise godly actions) but not apply the same logic to when it comes to temptation is hypocritical. I can choose to resist; I can choose to flee temptation. God says: I will not allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities to resist and will provide an escape. I can resist and overcome temptation. Don’t be discouraged but try to use your willpower to resist and the more you use it, the stronger it will become. I will leave “Freedom from choice” in the past and will now use my “Freedom of choice” to choose to be godly and resist temptation. I can choose to be godly; I can choose not to listen to bad 80’s new wave bands and I can choose to resist temptation. Use your “Freedom of choice” and resist the devil and he will flee from you.