These Things Happened to Them as an Example

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These Things Happened to Them as an Example

Most everyone has to admit  that there are times  when we get  into a complaining mode.     “This isn’t going right — and that is just a disaster.”     “I wish this was different.”     “Everybody else has so much more  than me.”     “It’s always the same-ol’,  same-ol’.”     “I’m tired  of people telling me  what I can  or can’t do.”          “I deserve better  than this.” ———

How would you like  to listen to that  all day — day  after day  after day?     God hears us.

It’s wrong  to continually complain  and be so ungrateful  for all the wonderful blessings  we do have.     We find it so easy  to forget  to say “Thank you,”  and to grumble instead.     All  of that grumbling and complaining is sinful  in God’s eyes.     That is why Paul gave the Corinthian congregation  a history lesson  about the situation  the Israelites had been  in about 1500 years prior.     In 1 Corinthians 10:1-12,  he wrote,

For I do not want you  to be unaware,  brethren,  that our fathers were all  under the cloud,  and all passed  through the sea;  and all were baptized  into Moses  in the cloud  and in the sea;  and all  ate the same spiritual food;  and all  drank the same spiritual drink,  for they were drinking  from a spiritual rock  which followed them;  and the rock  was Christ.

Nevertheless,  with most of them  God was not well-pleased;  for they were laid low  in the wilderness.

Now these things happened as examples for us,  that we should not  crave evil things,  as they also craved.

And do not be idolaters,  as some of them were;  as it is written,  “The people sat down  to eat and drink,  and stood up  to play.”

Nor let us act immorally,  as some of them did,  and twenty-three thousand fell  in one day.

Nor let us try the Lord,  as some of them did,  and were destroyed  by the serpents.

Nor grumble,  as some of them did,  and were destroyed  by the destroyer.

Now these things happened to them as an example,  and they were written  for our instruction,  upon whom the ends  of the ages have come.     Therefore  let him who thinks he stands  take heed lest he fall.

All the things  that happened  to the Israelites “were written  for our instruction.”     The Israelites often forgot  what had happened  in the past  and committed the same sins repeatedly.     Their repeated sins  and experiences  with the consequences  were written  for our instruction.     “These things happened  to them  as an example.”

We need  to consider our own attitudes  and learn  to be content and thankful  for every single blessing we have  from our Lord and Savior.     History need not repeat itself  yet again.

As we walk  with our Lord  in the light  of His word,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  everything I have  is a gracious gift  from You.     Help me  to rightly trust  in Your wisdom  to give me  what I need,  instead of dwelling  on my greeds.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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