A Memory Problem1 Corinthians 10:9
We should not test Christ, as some of them did--and were killed by snakes.
Thoughts for Today:Paul refers to Numbers 21:5-6: "They spoke against God and against Moses, and said, 'Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!' Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died."
In many ways, the Israelites were not that different from us when we long for the old friends, bad habits, and the loose living of our life before Christ. They too wanted to go back (Numbers 11:4-6): "The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, 'If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost--also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!'" Unfortunately, they had forgotten the beating, slavery, labor and hardship of life under Pharaoh.
In our passage today, Paul tells us: "We should not test Christ". Why? Because when we say, "I miss the old carefree days", we're really complaining against Christ. Like the Israelites, we have some memory problems. We fail to remember that it was the loneliness, misery, and emptiness that led us to Jesus in the first place. He alone is the One who delivered us out of our old situation and allows us to be in our "new" condition. (2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!")
Questions to Ponder:Have you been testing the Lord's patience by complaining about your present situation? Do you long for the sinful days of your past? Have you been wondering where has your joy gone? The answer isn't returning to old habits or relationships. The Lord has the power to fill our emptiness in ways only He can satisfy. Will you seek Him now?
We should not test Christ, as some of them did--and were killed by snakes.
Thoughts for Today:Paul refers to Numbers 21:5-6: "They spoke against God and against Moses, and said, 'Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!' Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died."
In many ways, the Israelites were not that different from us when we long for the old friends, bad habits, and the loose living of our life before Christ. They too wanted to go back (Numbers 11:4-6): "The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, 'If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost--also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!'" Unfortunately, they had forgotten the beating, slavery, labor and hardship of life under Pharaoh.
In our passage today, Paul tells us: "We should not test Christ". Why? Because when we say, "I miss the old carefree days", we're really complaining against Christ. Like the Israelites, we have some memory problems. We fail to remember that it was the loneliness, misery, and emptiness that led us to Jesus in the first place. He alone is the One who delivered us out of our old situation and allows us to be in our "new" condition. (2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!")
Questions to Ponder:Have you been testing the Lord's patience by complaining about your present situation? Do you long for the sinful days of your past? Have you been wondering where has your joy gone? The answer isn't returning to old habits or relationships. The Lord has the power to fill our emptiness in ways only He can satisfy. Will you seek Him now?
RSS Feed
