My Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord” this morning included 1 Corinthians 10:1-13…
Reading it today reminded me of parenting… Good parents, loving parents, wise parents combine WARNINGS and ENCOURAGEMENT – ADMONITION and ASSURANCES!
Inspired by the Holy Spirit that is precisely what Apostle Paul did in this passage! He played the part of a wonderful godly spiritual parent to a needy congregation (check out him applying that imagery to himself in 1 Corinthians 4:14-15).
Drawing on the experiences of the children of Israel in the Old Testament, Paul gave his “spiritual children” these “parental WARNINGS”…
“Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were… We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did…We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did… Nor grumble as some of them did… Now these things happened to them as an example, but were written down for our instruction! … Therefore let anyone who thinks they stand, take heed lest they fall!” (From 1 Corinthians 10:6-12 ESV)
But then the ENCOURAGEMENT and ASSURANCE (In the very next verse)!
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man! God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation HE WILL ALSO PROVIDE THE WAY OF ESCAPE, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO ENDURE IT!” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
My response? Thank you Apostle Paul, my “spiritual parent,” – I need both: WARNING and ENCOURAGEMENT – ADMONITION and ASSURANCE!
Coffee With The Lord 