1 Cor 10:1-13; Psalm 20

1 Cor 10:1-13
1 Cor. 9 told us about spiritual maturity, and Paul himself was a good example of this. 1 Cor. 10 reminds us that believers can be immature like Israel was in the Old Testament. Though God gave them many blessings, they did not please God, and He had to discipline them. vv. 1-5

Do you ever wonder what the Old Testament has to do with us? V. 6-11 tell us that "these things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of them did."

v. 12ff reminds us not to become proud or overconfident about our own strength. About the time we think we have this Christian life down pat, is the time we are in the most danger of falling! Everyone faces temptations! But praise the Lord--He 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." v. 13

Psalm 20
It's interesting that we came to Psalm 20 (not on purpose I assure you!) right after we looked at 1 Cor. 10:12-13.

Psalm 20 begins, "In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry..." This is a beautiful Psalm to pray in any time of challenge. And don't we all face challenges?

• May the Lord answer your cry.  
• May He keep you safe from all harm.
• May He send you help and strengthen you.
• May He grant your heart's desires.
• May He make all your plans succeed.
• May He answer all your prayers.

Wow! What a great example of how we should pray! Mixed in with these requests are expressions of faith that God will indeed hear and answer us. May this be said of us, "...we boast in the name of the Lord our God." v. 7