Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Today's Passage

1 Corinthians 10:5-13

Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry." We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did-and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did-and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did-and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come...

Paul mentioned in this passage people that God was not pleased with so that this can be a warning to us:

First of all, do not set your heart on evil things. Sometimes we may not necessarily set our hearts on evil things, but we set our hearts on things of this world. Sometimes, our hearts lust for money, so we become slaves to money; Lot lusted after prosperity in the city of Sodom and Gomorrah, and gradually moved his tent into the city of Sodom, which suffered God's curse soon after. In the beginning, Lot followed God, but because of lust, his heart strayed away from God.

Secondly, do not be idolaters. What is an idol? It does not necessarily refer to a physical sculpture. It is anything that may take the place of God in our hearts. What takes the most important place in our hearts? Is it self-achievement, family or children? Pray that God will help us so that we do not let other things take the place of God in our hearts.

Thirdly, do not commit adultery. The New Testament teaches us that when you think a lustful thought, that is equivalent to committing adultery. In the society today, there is a proliferation pornographic images and ideas that capture our hearts, and causes us to stray away from God. May God help us not to commit adultery in both thought and action.

Fourthly, do not test the Lord. This refers to deliberately not doing what God tells us we should do. It also refers to doing things that God says we should not do. We test God too often in our lives. However, God is righteous. We need to be cautious, and not test God.

Finally, do not grumble. The Israelites died in the wilderness primarily because of their complaining. Complaining is one of the main reasons we are unable to enjoy God's riches. When a person complains, the person becomes bitter and resentful, as such, they cannot enter God's promised land. Pray that God will help us, take this as a warning, so that we may please God in our daily lives and live according to God's will.

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu

Lord, we pray you help us once again. Since you put these warnings before us, help us to draw strength from you each day to pass these tests and overcome the enemy. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!