God’s Truth for Trying Times - 4/18/20

We need God’s truth in trying times. Read the Scripture passage, think about what it is saying, then pray; by yourself or with your household. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly (Col. 3:16).

READ: 1 Cor. 10:1-14

“For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, 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 drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play." We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (1 Cor.‬ ‭10:1-14‬)

CONSIDER: God is so good and kind to us to give us examples to learn by. What we read in these verses is that these things happened as examples for us. That we would not fall to the same sins that God’s people did in the past. In fact, it tells us that with many of them God was not pleased. We want to please God. That must be our ambition. 2 Cor. 5:9. We must disobey ourselves, and obey the Lord. We need to trust the Lord in the heat of spiritual battle, when temptation comes, we must look for the way escape that God provides. That way, as the following verses tell us, is remembering the gospel of God‘s grace in Christ, remembering Jesus Christ crucified, risen, and coming again; with likeminded fellow believers. God has us in His hands.

THINK: What does this declare about God? What are God’s people being called to do? What assurance is given? How does the Word of God transform our hearts and lives and relationships?

PRAY:‬‬ Pray these verses to God as a prayer. Pour out your heart in praise to God. Pray for others. Present needs to Him.