READING: 1 Corinthians 9-11
TEXTS AND APPLICATION: We now have one month left in our Bible reading for 2015. For much of this year, we lived in the text of the Old Testament. The stories are not new, but I noticed patterns more than ever in this year’s reading. God’s people rebelled. They turned to idolatry. God judged them even as He offered them forgiveness. The pattern continued over and over again.
In today’s reading, I’m reminded of one reason these stories are so important: “Now these things became examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did . . . Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Cor. 10:6, 11). The stories remind us that idolatry, sexual immorality, testing God, complaining, etc., bring God’s judgment on us. We must turn from evil — or we will pay a similar price as the Hebrews did.
So, God recorded the Old Testament stories to, among other purposes, teach us, warn us, and direct us away from sin. He loves us so much that He supernaturally sent us this Word. That’s a good God!
ACTION STEPS: Begin to think now about your reading plan for 2016. If you need a new study Bible, do your homework to choose the best version for you. Hiding His Word in your heart and mind can help you fight the battles of temptation.
PRAYER: “Father, I thank You for Your Word. Thanks for the Old Testament stories that warn us.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Corinthians 12-14