These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us…so, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it.   1 Corinthians 10:11-13

I think I made lunch for a false teacher.

I learned the news at school. I decided I would take it to the Lord in prayer that night. That timing was a mistake…since I could NOT fall sleep long afterward. What had happened?
I teach a weekly Bible group at our urban church in Blantyre, Malawi, Africa. It is similar to VBS and we welcome moms and children from the community. One such mom was Scottish and brought her 2 children each week. Her kids loved the group. Their family often would worship with us on Sunday as well. They weren’t exactly Lutheran but had questions. This Scottish lady met her Tanzanian husband on mission work in Africa. They had been married several years prior and he was now teaching at the Blantyre (nondenominational) Bible College. I decided our families could talk more and get to know one another over a meal. I invited them for lunch.
It was clear that they were not completely grounded. The Tanzanian man acknowledged that not all of their Bible College teachers agreed on the same doctrines. They inquired about our church’s training system. We happily shared our solid system of training. They seemed to long for such unity in religion. It was refreshing that they commended our church for the passion for unity in doctrine and fellowship. We kept inviting them to church and met together on and off for the next few years.

My Scottish friend is now alone. Their family went to Scotland so the husband could take more theological training. During that time the Tanzanian man was lured away. He told my Scottish friend he never really loved her and ran off with another woman to live in Germany. He threw away everything. It seemed he threw away God in the process. How, why, what a shock—what happened?

I’m writing to fellow Christian women who are in service to God alongside their husbands who serve faithfully. It brings me to my knees to think the devil will work so hard to attack US—believers who are dedicating their lives to share the truth about Jesus. The devil will keep attacking. He will succeed to make us doubt, sin and fall. HELP! While we’re down and on our knees anyway we must pray!
We will never find a safe haven from sin. We will never find the perfect husband, or be the perfect wife or mom, or pastor’s wife, or teacher, leader or friend. What we will find is a daily need to fix that broken status. That is only found in Christ.
My fellow sisters-in-Christ, that daily renewal can’t happen when we get so busy and distracted by the world that we invite in our homes and our lives in so many forms. Our existence must be rooted in Christ, remain in Christ and rely on Him constantly. We must prioritize, remove anything the devil uses as a foothold in our life and clear our minds of worldly pursuits. He tells us He is faithful and will provide a way out when we’re tempted. That battle plan needs to be in place when we are attacked. We must be in the Word.
That Tanzanian man has already left Germany. That temporary pleasure is over. He is left with lifelong consequences. He is broken; he needs healing in the Lord. We are all broken and need healing in the Lord.
Thank God for the beautiful relationship we have through Jesus. Thank God for the beautiful relationship we have in our God-fearing husband, our family and friends. Love and trust can only be reflected in our lives with Christ at the center. It is a good time to reevaluate our daily priorities and it might also be a good time to give your faithful husband a thankful hug! Stay strong Christian sister—fight each battle and win through Christ!