1 Corinthians 10-3.16.22
Scripture
1 Corinthians 10:3-5
3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
Observation-What does it say?
Paul speaks about the issue of idolatry and pride in a Believer’s life, (not an unbeliever’s life to be clear). As the passage points out, some of Israel were faithful to God, but “God was not pleased with most of them” (vs. 5) because of their idolatry and sin. There were consequences as a result of their actions. Scripture points out the following in verses 8-10:
Some committed sexual immorality-the consequence: in one day, 23,000 of them died.
Some tested Christ- the consequence: they were killed by snakes.
Some grumbled- the consequence: they were killed by the destroying angel.
Paul used these Old Testament examples to admonish (aka correct) those in the church of Corinth.
Understanding-What does it mean?
Idolatry and Pride are deadly combinations and breaks the first commandment of loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Anything that holds us back from Jesus must be surrendered.
Life Application
God is faithful and is able to conquer anything in our lives that is holding us back from being fully devoted to Him.
1 Corinthians 10:12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 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.
Dear Lord, idolatry and pride are deadly combinations as Your Word points out. Please reveal any areas where idolatry and pride have crept into my life and help me to release it completely to You. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi
1 Corinthians 9-3.15.22
Scripture
I Corinthians 9:24-26
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
Observation
In these verses Paul uses the dedication and discipline required of an elite athlete to describe the discipline required of a Christ follower.
Understanding
Do you know anyone who has run a marathon? It takes four to six months, running four to five times a week, to get ready. That is dedication! And that’s not all. You also need to prepare yourself mentally. You need to be aware of nutrition, hydration, sleep, and more. You would most likely spend lots of time researching - the best shoes, running clothes, training plans, injury prevention, nutrition, exercise, etc. You would look for advice from other runners. It would take a great deal of focus and discipline to accomplish your goal. You need to become a disciple of running.
Discipline comes from discipulus, the Latin word for pupil, which also provided the source of the word disciple (Mirriam Webster).
We all have something that we love to do or that we are passionate about. Ask me a question about baking at your own risk. I am going to give you a long, drawn-out explanation about the best pans, temperature, ingredients, or recipes, and I am most likely going to force you to look at dozens of pictures on my phone! I love to read articles about baking, and I watch EVERY SINGLE baking competition on TV! I am a pupil of baking.
Life Application
What are your passions? What do you spend your time and thoughts on? There is nothing wrong with having hobbies and interests. But do we put that same passion and dedication into the things of God? We are disciples of Christ. Being a disciple takes discipline – disciplines of prayer, bible reading, study, fellowship, accountability, and obedience. “Paul ... uses the illustration of a race and its prize to emphasize the need for single-mindedness, determination, and perseverance.” (ESV Study Reformation Bible) We need to become so passionate about being a disciple that it consumes our lives – it is what we spend our time thinking about and put our time and effort into.
Graves Into Gardens (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwX1f2gYKZ4)
I searched the world, but it couldn't fill me
Man's empty praise and treasures that fade are never enough
Lord nothing is better than You!
-Debbie Dunn
Psalm 120-3.14.22
Scripture
Psalms 120:1 NLT
“I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.”
Observation-What does it say?
In this psalm, the psalmist prays to God to deliver him from false and malicious tongues (vs. 1-4). The psalmist complains of wicked neighbors (vs. 5-7). The psalmist took his troubles to God and God was faithful to answer his prayer.
Understanding-What does it mean?
Take your worries and troubles to God in prayer.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.”-Philippians 4:6a
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”-1 Peter 5:7
It sounds pretty simple right?! Well it is! God yearns for a relationship with us. He desires to spend time with us. Life is already hard enough as it is and it’s not meant for us to go through alone. God is here for us. He loves and cares for us. Nothing is too big or too small that God can’t handle. So why not give your burdens to the God of the universe? Why not trust Him to guide our lives?
Life Application
No matter what life throws my way, I’m trusting Jesus!
Whenever we go through hardships, why is it that we turn to others for advice/help before we turn to Jesus? Why not turn to and trust in the One who overcame the world? Let’s learn from the psalmist here and call out to God/Jesus for help. He is faithful to answer. He is just a prayer away.
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”-Matt 11:28-29
-Moses Gaddi