- Giving importance to the Scripture and the Word of God
1 Corinthians 10:11-13, ‘Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 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.’ Paul is mentioning here, about how can we avoid the mistakes that Israelites did, in our Christian journey. Let us remind ourselves, about how God delivered Israelites from the slavery in Egypt and led them with great miracles. They crossed the red sea, God fed them with heavenly manna, with water from the rocks. He took care of them, provided all their needs but they started grumbling and rebelling against God. We see this, in Exodus 16. They were not thankful for what God did. 1 Corinthians 10:1, ‘For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.’
Israelites forgot what the Lord had done. They kept testing God and His goodness. How is our relationship/attitude towards God, when we go through any trials? If we compare ourselves, how much importance are we giving to the word of God? As our forefathers were provided with all the provisions, so we are, today, through messages we are receiving these days. Are we thankful for the promises of God? There is a great need of God’s Word in our lives. We have many examples and instructions and promises from the Bible, to follow Christ. Physically, Israelites saw all the wonders and miracles, yet they were ungrateful. They were murmuring and rebelling against God. Let us test ourselves if we are giving proper importance to the Scripture, the Word of God, that I am listening each day of my life? We are getting light from God’s Word, in several areas of our life, are we storing up this knowledge in our head or are we practically applying to our Christian walk? How is our attitude, when we face trials/difficulties? Let us remember the promises of God, be grateful and trust in His faithfulness. There is a clear warning from Paul, that we need to avoid the mistakes which they did. Remember the promises of God and always be thankful.
1 Corinthians 10: 6-10, ‘Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.” Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.’ What is our priority? When Jesus was tempted, He came out triumphantly. Where do we stand in our spiritual state after listening to so much of the Word, after reading the Word of God? How is our physical state? Are we still giving importance to the earthly things? Are we grumbling and complaining, being idolaters by giving importance to anything else, other than God? ‘ Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.’
Be a living testimony for Him. God is doing many miracles in our lives, let us be faithful to God, no matter what. Hold on to the promises of God.
- We need to examine whether our strength is coming from God or ourselves?
1 Corinthians 10:12, ‘Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall’
Paul is saying to the group of people who think that they are standing, ‘take heed, that he does not fall’ – this shows, ‘if our attitude, after listening to the messages, if we think we are following what the Word of God says, then we need to take heed, check, if our strength is in our abilities, our strength, our knowledge of Word of God thinking, ‘we can stand by ourselves, without falling’ – This is the group, Paul is saying, ‘Take heed, lest you fail’. Are we hungering and thirst for God and His strength?
2 Corinthians 12:7, ‘Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.’ This weakness was required to Paul, to keep him from boasting in himself rather than God. The Power of God enabled him to stand strong in his weakness, in Christ and also in overcoming in weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake. God gave Paul strength through his weakness.
In Matthew 26, we see Jesus encouraging His disciples, to be alert and watch and pray, as the temptations were near. Are we careful and alert to do Gods work? Or are we careless like the Israelites? May be Peter was careless, at the time when he denied Jesus for three times, as he was not praying, when Jesus asked him to pray, so that he may not enter into temptation. They were careless, and the Israelites were also careless and were not on alert mode, and were not thankful for what God had done for them in the wilderness. They God delayed any help, they started to grumble and started to rebel, had done immoral things, worshiped idols. ‘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.’ This is the promise of God, to those who are facing temptations in day-day life, just like Jesus had in His life. Our weakness should be our strength, so we can cry out to our God, with a careful, thankful attitude, not depending on the material things but follow Jesus, what He did when He faced temptations. In the three different areas, Jesus was tempted, but He came out victoriously through those temptations. In the same way, it says here, ‘no temptation will overtake us, He will give us only what we can bear and God is faithful, He will give us strength.’ Like the song goes,
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son
And now let the weak say, “I am strong.”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us”
We may face many trials and difficulties; we need to rise up and understand that no temptation will overcome us. He makes all things beautiful in His time. Let us not depend on worldly materials but always on Gods provision, so that when we are weak, His glory will be manifested. God will give us the strength.
Hebrews 4:14-16, ‘Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.’ Jesus knows our weakness. He showed us how to live this Christian life by His example on earth. He will sympathize with our weakness. Our confidence should be on God who saved us, redeemed us through His precious blood, with this confidence if we go to God, then we will receive mercy and grace. alone. In each trial, that we face, we need to go to God.
Matthews 14:26-31, ‘When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”’ Peter knew who Jesus is. His eyes were on Jesus, when he was walking on water, he did not see the sea or the waves. Sometime later, his eyes looked at waves, away from Jesus, he began to sink. Then he looked back at Jesus and asked to save him, then immediately Jesus saved him. We should not see our problems bigger than Jesus. We have so many examples from the Bible. So, let us take heed and run to Jesus our Saviour.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27, ‘Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the game’s exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we, an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.’ Let us take the Word seriously and remain faithful.
Praise God.
