What Kind of Summer Are You Going To Have?

With the start of summer comes a myriad of different opportunities to do stuff: vacations, holidays, fun in the sun, and ball games just to name a few. Summer is to be enjoyed and celebrated! However, there is some risk involved in the activities of summer as well, and I'm not talking about sunburns and mosquito bites. I'm talking more about a Christian's spiritual health. Often times during the summer (and others seasons as well) we put ourselves in situations that are risky; compromising situations which have the potential to move us away from God, not closer to Him.

The apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 10 teaches this truth to the Christians in Corinth. He reminds them that while God was with Israel in rescuing them from Egypt and providing for them in the wilderness, many Israelites died and never reached the Promised Land because they put themselves in compromising situations. Read Paul's teaching:

"These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. ¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! ¹³ 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." ~ 1 Corinthians 10:11-13

The core teaching here is simple: Don't assume anything. Don't assume that you can put yourself in a compromising relationship and come out unscathed. Don't assume that you can miss out on regular fellowship with other Christians and not be affect. Don't assume that you can ignore a regular diet of God's Word and still grow in your faith. Be careful that you don't fall!

God will always provide a way out, but our God is a gentleman—He's not going to make you do what you don't want to do. If you're in a situation that you shouldn't be, He's not going to pick you up and move you to safety. If you have missed out on fellowship with your church family, He's not going to forcibly pick you up and plant you in church. Your discipleship is dependent upon you intentionally putting yourself in situations where you avoid temptation and are surrounded as much as possible with God's people and His Word.

Please understand that I remind you of these things because I care about you. For too many Christians, summer is a time to "take a break" from their faith. But what if summer was a time of genuine spiritual growth? What if summer provided you with more time of fellowship with Christians? What if summer provided you more time to read the Bible? What if summer provided you more time to walk and pray? What if summer allowed you more time to serve?

Summer is officially here. What kind of summer are you going to have? You choose.