Scripture Deuteronomy 4:6-8 (NIV) Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." 7 What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? 8 And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? Deuteronomy 4:6-8 (NIV)
OBSERVATION 1. God gave the laws to Israel for their good, so that they would follow them carefully. 2. In addition, they were to be a showcase to the other nations of God's goodness, and desire for relationship.
APPLICATION I too, when I walk in the Spirit, can showcase God's goodness, wisdom, desire for relationship to those around me. Cross reference Matthew 5:16 (NIV) 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Prayer Lord, I believe this because you say it is true. But in my heart I feel that people only think I'm a nice person. Lord, show me how to glorify you more and me less. Show people around me the Christ in me. Amen.
Title: "23,000 Die in One Day Because of Sin" Mentor: Paul
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:3 "They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 9 We should not test Christ,
Observe: Paul was going back into the history of the Jews. He mentions that the Israelites ate and drank from Christ, before he was born! And yet even though they did, they committed idolatry and sinned sexually. God's holiness caused many to die (23,000) in one day because of this. He then says that this should be an example to us today. Sin is testing Jesus.
Apply: Seems like everyday my application is SIN. I need to learn from our mentors who are dead but still living. Do I fear the holiness of God? Yes the grace of Jesus is real, however do I value it by pursuing holiness and hate sin. God provides a way out of temptation, I need to find that door.
Prayer: Father God, would you help me to learn from our mentors today that your holiness is real, you hate sin. You haven't changed from the Old Testament. I don't want to test Jesus. Help me to see the door when tempted, a way of escape, so that I can endure it.
Scripture If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)
Observation Paul warns the church at Corinth to be very careful when it comes to sin. Too often people take temptation lightly, only to fall and later regret it. Paul's observation is simple, "if you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall."
Proverbs says it this way; "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling." Proverbs 16:18
When we think that we've arrived, it just might be our first step towards disaster. Pride is a precursor to destruction.
Application I remember boxing in high school. We would challenge each other, and spar. After a while, I got overly confident in my own strength, and a shorter, smaller guy challenged me. I thought that I had it in the bag, and everyone else did too. My friends encouraged me to go at 50%, and so full of pride, I went easy on my opponent.
What happened next could only be described as a blur. A blizzard of punches hit me in the face, and in a matter of seconds my foot had slipped and I hit the pavement. Shock, amazement, and yell's came from the people who had watched it happen. Pride took another victim!
I must make sure that I never allow pride to puff me up. I am weak without God. I need His strength. I need accountability, and I need strong guardrails in my life that encourage me to live life far away from the edges of sin. Paul puts the truth out there, "If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall." I need to listen!
Prayer Father, please forgive me where I've been prideful. Expose those areas to me, and continue to transform me into your image. Help me to approach temptation with humility that I may succeed against everything that comes my way! In Jesus Name Amen
Title: Israel, an arrow pointing to God.
ReplyDeleteScripture
Deuteronomy 4:6-8 (NIV) Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people."
7 What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?
8 And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? Deuteronomy 4:6-8 (NIV)
OBSERVATION
1. God gave the laws to Israel for their good, so that they would follow them carefully. 2. In addition, they were to be a showcase to the other nations of God's goodness, and desire for relationship.
APPLICATION
I too, when I walk in the Spirit, can showcase God's goodness, wisdom, desire for relationship to those around me. Cross reference Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Prayer
Lord, I believe this because you say it is true. But in my heart I feel that people only think I'm a nice person. Lord, show me how to glorify you more and me less. Show people around me the Christ in me. Amen.
Title: "23,000 Die in One Day Because of Sin"
ReplyDeleteMentor: Paul
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:3 "They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 9 We should not test Christ,
Observe: Paul was going back into the history of the Jews. He mentions that the Israelites ate and drank from Christ, before he was born! And yet even though they did, they committed idolatry and sinned sexually. God's holiness caused many to die (23,000) in one day because of this. He then says that this should be an example to us today. Sin is testing Jesus.
Apply: Seems like everyday my application is SIN. I need to learn from our mentors who are dead but still living. Do I fear the holiness of God? Yes the grace of Jesus is real, however do I value it by pursuing holiness and hate sin. God provides a way out of temptation, I need to find that door.
Prayer: Father God, would you help me to learn from our mentors today that your holiness is real, you hate sin. You haven't changed from the Old Testament. I don't want to test Jesus. Help me to see the door when tempted, a way of escape, so that I can endure it.
Title: Precursor to Destruction
ReplyDeleteScripture
If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)
Observation
Paul warns the church at Corinth to be very careful when it comes to sin. Too often people take temptation lightly, only to fall and later regret it. Paul's observation is simple, "if you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall."
Proverbs says it this way; "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling." Proverbs 16:18
When we think that we've arrived, it just might be our first step towards disaster. Pride is a precursor to destruction.
Application
I remember boxing in high school. We would challenge each other, and spar. After a while, I got overly confident in my own strength, and a shorter, smaller guy challenged me. I thought that I had it in the bag, and everyone else did too. My friends encouraged me to go at 50%, and so full of pride, I went easy on my opponent.
What happened next could only be described as a blur. A blizzard of punches hit me in the face, and in a matter of seconds my foot had slipped and I hit the pavement. Shock, amazement, and yell's came from the people who had watched it happen. Pride took another victim!
I must make sure that I never allow pride to puff me up. I am weak without God. I need His strength. I need accountability, and I need strong guardrails in my life that encourage me to live life far away from the edges of sin. Paul puts the truth out there, "If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall." I need to listen!
Prayer
Father, please forgive me where I've been prideful. Expose those areas to me, and continue to transform me into your image. Help me to approach temptation with humility that I may succeed against everything that comes my way! In Jesus Name Amen
Title: God Keeps His Promises
ReplyDeleteMentor: Joshua
Scripture: Joshua 21:45 "The Lord kept all of the good promises He had made to the people of Israel. Everyone of them came true."
Observe: God kept all the promises He made to the Israelites.
Apply: I need to know what promises God has made to me and to trust that he will keep them.
Prayer: Dear God, Help me to understand your promises to me and believe that you will keep them. In Jesus name, Amen