1 Corinthians 10:11-12 (NIV) 11 These
things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us,
on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12 So, if
you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!
This verse has always struck me as
Paul’s way of reminding us not to take anything for granted. Overconfidence in
ourselves (not in the Lord) is a dangerous thing in our lives, and to our
spiritual life. Recently a video went viral of a Mount Washington Observatory
worker being knocked off his feet by an intense gust of wind on the summit of
the 6,288-foot high mountain, which is notorious for bad weather. Though winter
has been over for two months conditions on this tallest peak in the northeast
can be very unpredictable. The wind speed on the day the video was shot was 109
MPH. That pales in comparison with the U.S. record of 231 MPH that was set
there in 1934, but the video still displays the amazing power of the wind.
The video can be found at: https://www.yahoo.com/news/video-shows-109-mph-wind-tossing-man-mount-172613813.html?nhp=1
It is fun to watch. But while it is
amusing, it is a humbling reminder of the smallness of humanity, even in
relation to routine weather. Many things – some great and some small – can knock
us off our feet spiritually and emotionally. A personal, community, national,
or international tragedy can do it. A sinful urge can come out of nowhere and
catch us off guard. A rush of anger or lust can alter the course of a day. A
broken relationship can throw us off a faithful walk behind Jesus.
In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul is telling
believers in Corinth that the Jews who had come out of bondage in Egypt had
everything going for them. They had seen God work first-hand. They had enjoyed
the blessing of His provision. Yet most of them never made it to Canaan, the
land of promise. Why was that? They faced things – difficulties – that made
them grumble and complain and even turn against the Lord. Paul wanted the
Corinthian believers to know that similar things could face them, and they
should not be arrogant enough to think that they could never fail like the
children of Israel did on so many occasions. It would be foolish and naïve for
them to be so confident as to think they were above being “blown away” by some
temptation or trouble. Like them, our confidence needs to be in the Lord and
His strength, not in ourselves and our ability or our own wisdom.
All of these thoughts are helpful as
a prelude to Paul’s words in verse 13: “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.”
May our confidence be always in the
Lord, always exceeding our confidence in ourselves and in other people.
2 Corinthians
4:7-12 (NIV) 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that
this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We
are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not
destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the
death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11
For we who are alive are always being given over to death for
Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So
then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
PRAYER: Father, when life presses in, please keep me
from assuming that I can easily “handle it” on my own. I am truly desperate for
you – very needy in body, mind, and spirit. Let my confidence rest on you.
Thank you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”
Jesus
Christ is Lord!
Scott
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