1 Corinthians 10:1-5
When I was a kid, I attended a Christian school. My parents decided that this was the best option for my education. Quick disclaimer: The educational choice of Christian school, public school, or home school is completely the choice of the parents. I am not advocating for any one educational choice. What I am advocating for is living with gratitude.
My point of bringing up the Christian school is that I was surrounded with unique privileges. I had Christian teachers who instilled Biblical principles into secular subjects. I had Christian teachers who openly talked about the Gospel, Biblical topics, and character-led decision-making. I had Chapel three times a week where the Word of God was opened and songs of praise were sung. I had textbooks with Bible verses, words of wisdom, and foundational truths such as creationism and Biblical marriage. There were a lot of opportunities and privileges at my fingertips. I was blessed.
Sadly, I was also surrounded by a lot of kids who took those privileges for granted. Instead of growing closer to Christ, many of them grew further away from Christ choosing to make foolish and selfish decisions. Nothing exemplified this more than my senior trip where five seniors were sent home once they were caught stealing, drinking, and smoking. With all the opportunities and privileges in front of them, they chose to reject them.
That was Israel. Paul made it clear that they had been given so many blessings. They literally saw the power of God turn a large, flowing sea into a desert with massive walls of water suspended in the air on both sides. They experienced God supernaturally defeating their Egyptian enemies. They literally had their thirst quenched with water that came out of a rock. They experienced great leadership and love under Moses. They were blessed, yet they did not reciprocate those blessings through humble gratitude and obedience to God. Instead, they grumbled, complained, and caused discord. God was not pleased, and they died in the wilderness long before they were ever able to experience the Promised Land of Canaan.
The Apostle Paul cited these examples to warn the church NOT to follow in the Israelites footsteps. Today’s pressures make it easy to ignore or forget the lessons of the past. Paul cautions us to remember the lessons the Israelites learned so that we can avoid repeating them.
As a parent, at times, I have pointed out the irresponsible and immature mistakes of others to my kids as warnings to avoid. I have told my kids that you do NOT want to “end up like that person!” That person serves as a warning, an example. So, the big question is - are we learning from the past mistakes of others?
When I think back to all of those kids that I attended school with, I am saddened and even frustrated to think that they had, for the most part, good homes, good churches, good mentors, good teachings, etc, and yet they “flushed it all down the toilet!” We MUST not make the same mistakes. To whom much has been given, much is required! Don’t ignore the privileges that God has so lavishly bestowed upon you!
My point of bringing up the Christian school is that I was surrounded with unique privileges. I had Christian teachers who instilled Biblical principles into secular subjects. I had Christian teachers who openly talked about the Gospel, Biblical topics, and character-led decision-making. I had Chapel three times a week where the Word of God was opened and songs of praise were sung. I had textbooks with Bible verses, words of wisdom, and foundational truths such as creationism and Biblical marriage. There were a lot of opportunities and privileges at my fingertips. I was blessed.
Sadly, I was also surrounded by a lot of kids who took those privileges for granted. Instead of growing closer to Christ, many of them grew further away from Christ choosing to make foolish and selfish decisions. Nothing exemplified this more than my senior trip where five seniors were sent home once they were caught stealing, drinking, and smoking. With all the opportunities and privileges in front of them, they chose to reject them.
That was Israel. Paul made it clear that they had been given so many blessings. They literally saw the power of God turn a large, flowing sea into a desert with massive walls of water suspended in the air on both sides. They experienced God supernaturally defeating their Egyptian enemies. They literally had their thirst quenched with water that came out of a rock. They experienced great leadership and love under Moses. They were blessed, yet they did not reciprocate those blessings through humble gratitude and obedience to God. Instead, they grumbled, complained, and caused discord. God was not pleased, and they died in the wilderness long before they were ever able to experience the Promised Land of Canaan.
The Apostle Paul cited these examples to warn the church NOT to follow in the Israelites footsteps. Today’s pressures make it easy to ignore or forget the lessons of the past. Paul cautions us to remember the lessons the Israelites learned so that we can avoid repeating them.
As a parent, at times, I have pointed out the irresponsible and immature mistakes of others to my kids as warnings to avoid. I have told my kids that you do NOT want to “end up like that person!” That person serves as a warning, an example. So, the big question is - are we learning from the past mistakes of others?
When I think back to all of those kids that I attended school with, I am saddened and even frustrated to think that they had, for the most part, good homes, good churches, good mentors, good teachings, etc, and yet they “flushed it all down the toilet!” We MUST not make the same mistakes. To whom much has been given, much is required! Don’t ignore the privileges that God has so lavishly bestowed upon you!
Posted in Devotional