1 Corinthians 10: 1-13
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.
Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things 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 got up to indulge in pagan revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did–and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did–and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did–and were killed by the destroying angel.
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it.
A Thought
Paul is reminding each of us that we are to be an example of the good news of Jesus the Christ and giving us warning not to let our hearts be on evil things like the Israelites did in the desert. We should not test the Lord by committing sexual immorality: in one day 23,000 died. We should not grumble, as some did. Some died by snakes and others were killed by the destroying angel. We should all be careful when we think we are standing firm because all mankind will be tempted. If we keep our thoughts on Jesus, God will always provide a way for us to stand under temptation without sinning.
Our Prayer
Father thank you that you will always provide a way of escape from temptation. Help us to follow the example of Paul and many others who were tempted but did not fall. We want to make you the center of our lives and not to tempt you. Help us to see where having our heart on sexual immorality and grumbling will lead us. Thank you that you are always faithful. We praise your name. In the name of Jesus’, amen.
