1 CORINTHIANS 10 showed us 3 important points:
1. ISRAEL'S EXAMPLE of infidelity, a warning to the church (v1-15)
v1-5 in Exodus Israelites were blessed with many spiritual experiences, yet they were disqualified - they were sustained by God's miraculous provision and protection, they we provided with food and drinks and brought to safety yet they stayed in the wilderness till they perish (exept for Joshua and Caleb) - WHY? God wasn't pleased with them - THEY GRUMBLED AND NEVER GRATEFUL!
WARNING: we may experience divine provision and protection but we may still perish - we MUST STAND STRONG AGAINST TEMPTATION:
- say NO to lust, idolatry, sexual immorality and we must be grateful to the Lord.
2. FELLOWSHIP AT THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER - demands separation from evil association (v16-21)
- we cannot partake in the Lord's table and the table of demon.
- we disgrace the Lord's table when we fellowship with idols
3. CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE TO BE GUARDED in the matter of eating and drinking (v23-33)
- Eat whatever is sold in the meat market
- Don't ask questions, eat whatever is set on the table
- Do all for the glory of God - our behavior must not encourage others to sin
OUR LIBERTY MUST BE WITHIN THE LIMITS OF LOVE
Let us reflect:
- Are we like Israelites who have spiritually experienced God's hands of provision and protection, yet we are not grateful and still give in to temptations?
- Do we go to the church - partake in the Lord's table and go home after and do whatever we please to do (sin)?
- Do we always fight for our right and cannot step back for the sake of love?
Let us pray:
Lord our Father, in the name of Your son Jesus, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we humbly ask you to sustain us in the face of temptations, may we all learn to be grateful and loving. May we always practice to be kind not to be right. Amen.
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