Standing and Falling

         There have been times in my ministry where I have had to do unpleasant things.  One of the most unpleasant is confronting another believer about some blatant sin in their life.  In one particular case it was an open sin which had been observed by many and the task of confronting the individual fell on me.  I was not alone at the time of confrontation but the responsibility fell on me because of the involvement of the individuals in ministries of which I was the overseer.  I didn't like it and it did turn out for the better in the end but it was still an unpleasant thing in which to take part.  First Corinthians 10:12-13 says,"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."   
      We have heard the expression, "Well, it's like the pot calling the kettle black."   the example of the pot and the kettle is that they are both the same color.  The illustration is that we can all be found guilty of one sin or another because we are all still growing in the LORD.  None of us are perfect but we do need to be aware of issues that are affecting the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and take care of them before they cause undue injury not only to the individuals involved but also to the church.  We are familiar with verse 13 and use it many times to discuss the temptations in which we are involved.  We are probably not as familiar with the preceding verse or at least, we separate them from each other.  There are those in the Christian faith who think they are above reproach and that they lead exemplary lives and could face any accusation that anyone could muster against them.  When you have that attitude, you had better start remembering verse twelve and take heed lest you fall.  We know that Satan loves to take Christians down a notch or two and to ruin their testimony.  In the ideal situation, each and every believer would be aware of the dangers in which they are courting disaster and take care of them.  We don't however, live in an ideal universe, nor world, nor life in the church.  In reality, we are all sinners and need help at times from other believers to be corrected when the need arises.  For many, the process is already at full throttle in the mind and is about to explode so let us take heed to the words of verse 12, lest we fall.  Praise God for forgiveness.