CREDIT: Major Clanger
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Ever hear the saying, “You can be a horrible warning or a great example”? In either case we can learn from these kinds of people – what not to do and how not to act or what to do! I’ve experienced this saying for a while. I had a boss many years ago who was a “horrible warning” - he hoarded all his good employees, keeping them from advancing in their careers. Fortunately, he was succeeded by a “great example” who saw value in promoting his best so others could also move up. I hope I learned from both; what to do and what not to do.
God’s word is filled with “great examples” of faith, as well as many “horrible warnings” so we might see firsthand the importance of keeping ourselves firmly tied to God and His word through regular worship, prayer, and the study of His word. St. Paul gives us some “horrible warnings” help us learn from. God’s own people, selected by Him and saved from the tyranny of the Egyptians, still engaged in idol worship, indulged in sins of the flesh, put God to the test, and grumbled against Him and His miraculous provision. Lacking faith in God’s loving promises, they all fell dead before entering the Promised Land. He says, “These things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction” (1 Corinthians 10:1-11).
God’s word gives us, His people today, these “horrible warnings” to teach us a simple truth. God saves us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gives us the gift of faith to believe His word and promises on account of Jesus Christ. But, without proper nourishment through worship, prayer, and His word, our faith can shrivel, grow weak, and even die. Satan, taking advantage of our weakened state, can lead us astray through temptation. But, when faced with temptation, turning to God and His word, He strengthens us to endure as we journey into the eternal Promised Land, the kingdom of heaven (1 Corinthians 10:13).
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Jim