9.21.24 Do’s…Don’t’s

1 Cor 10 “Do’s and Don’ts”

Can you hear your parents saying those words to you as you grew up? Paul considers himself the parent to the Corinthians, and as such, he reminds them of those who went before them and they did not obey the Lord thus incurring consequences. That is the same for us today. God has given us the “do’s” so that He might bless us and the “don’ts,” thus incurring the consequences if we do not. 

So where are you obeying the Lord today OR are you disobeying? Read this chapter closely to learn what is acceptable and what is not. 

Paul reminds the Corinthians of their ancestors: they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.” But, then they were distracted by the idolatry of the nations around them and fell into their ways. Beloved, this should not be! “God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness.” You may not be in the literal wilderness, but you may be in a wilderness of your choices. At one time you chose to follow the Rock, Jesus but along the way you were distracted by the glitz and glamor of the world. John reminds us to not love the world or the things of the world for they will pass away. 

Today where is your focus? Are you devoting yourself to the earthly things or to the eternal things? Check your heart and your actions. 

An Example to Follow!

Ezra, an example to follow

Ezra 7 -10 – 2 Tim 2:15

Ezra 7 to 10 takes place after the drama of Esther in the palace. King Xerxes has passed on, and King Artaxerxes is in power. What took place in the book of Esther prepares us for the drama in Ezra, a man dedicated to God. “Now Ezra had dedicated himself to the study of the law of the Lord, to its observance, and to teaching its statutes and judgments in Israel.” [Ezra 7:10] A man who wants to be an approved workman of God is to include all three steps: study, do, and then teach. Psalm 1 is the foundation: “But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD, and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”  Then he will be an approved workman that is unashamed before God. [2Tim 2:15]

Because of those principles, Ezra found favor in the eyes of the king and was granted all he sought.

The NT places this warning before us:  “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, and sisters because you know that we will be judged more strictly.” [James 3:1] as well as the one from Mark 9:42: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.”

Ezra set his heart to do all that was needed and God blessed him. He is a great example to follow! 

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