Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.


1 Corinthians 10:1-33
Old Testament Examples Do All to God's Glory 1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3all ate the same spiritual food, 4and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." F25 8Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11Now all F26 these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Flee from Idolatry14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. 18Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. 22Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
All to the Glory of GodR14 23 All things are lawful for me, F27 but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, F28 but not all things edify. 24Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being. 25Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake; 26for "the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness." F29 27If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake. 28But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; F30 for "the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness." F31 29"Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience? 30But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks? 31Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Footnotes

1. F25: 10:7 Exodus 32:6
2. F26: 10:11 NU-Text omits all.
3. F27: 10:23 NU-Text omits for me.
4. F28: NU-Text omits for me.
5. F29: 10:26 Psalm 24:1
6. F30: 10:28 NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.
7. F31: Psalm 24:1 Show cross-references
1. R14: cf. Ps. 24:1

Copyright Statement:
The New King James Version© 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

~ Lena’s Journalin’
Let’s start today from the question ______________, Where are you?
This is the first Biblical question, the first question God asked man. Why would God ask this question of man, does not God know all? All about man, everyman, everywhere? Yes, He does. The question is, does man himself know where he is, especially in comparison to where God is and where the purposes of God are and God’s part in those purposes are? To some this question seems intrusive, to others it is insistent, and does God think I am dumb or something, that I don’t know where I’m at? Do we know where we are at?
Ever been in a new place and need a map, a store directory or directions? That doesn’t mean you are dumb, just ignorant. Ignorance isn’t dumb, but it does mean we can change the state of being to becoming informed.
Look at the root word in ignorance- ignore-ance. Something I did not attend to, have not yet attended to, have not yet found out about, or am purposely not delving into at this time.
Are you brave enough to ask God to show you where you are concerning follow His Son? Concerning Loving God and people? (the two greatest commands, in which all other commands of the Lord stand)? I mean what if I find myself lacking? Before God who does not lack? This is the point we must find ourselves making. I stand before God, I find I am lacking, I find He is not and He loves me the way I am, enough to help bring me up in His ways and change the ways I’ve been doing things wrongly. WOW, what a blessing! Thank God I found grace to help me in my weakness! Thank God someone was there to lead me right, show me the way, tell me the truth about where I am and which direction I should go in to get where I really want to be, and someone who sees danger ahead and diverts me in my walk.
Back to the context- bodies scattered in the wilderness, they obviously did not locate themselves, never got to their destination, maybe never even saw the destination. These died on the way, but maybe they thought there was a specific way to go that was wrong and they were deceived or lied to. Maybe no one led them, or maybe if led they would not follow. Maybe no one ever asked – Where am I at? Pride could have kept them from asking, and pride has also kept them away from where God wanted them to go. He had a dream He wanted them to have a part in fulfilling, but they wouldn’t listen or ask the question, they refused to locate themselves. The saddest part of all of this in life is- We are His dream and the promises He desires to happen in the earth are entrusted to us to accomplish through obedient action and the initiation of true heartfelt ex-pressed desire of love in our hearts towards Him. That love is so strong that it has to give its life for another’s dream. Yet no one in this wilderness scenario was willing to do that, love that much. So, He was not well pleased, no one was willing and obedient, no one ate the good of the land that was available to eat from. The food and water were around the corner of loving obedient sacrifice.
Be very careful thinking you are just fine where you are. You may be fine with I alright, but were you brave enough to ask God if He was ok with where you are at this time? That would be the way a person, who loves God and loves His will, would live, asking.


So what are idols then, like in modern day? What takes our time from us and uses it for its own glory? What requires our money? What do we pay the most attention to in life, even if it’s only in our thought life that we give attention to it? Idols are objects of worship.
All things permissible to me because I am a freewill being, but do I want to permit certain things to open unwanted doors in my life or am I a guard and a steward of God’s treasury- which is me, my family, my church house, my workplace etc? If I permit- or give an inch, remember others who are not convicted around me, may give it the mile in their own lives. What I permit will be permitted and what I do not allow will not be allowed. NO, it is not good to just be opened to just anything. It is good to look out for others and place no tree in their pathway, rather it is right to remove obstacles that may prevent them from getting through.
So, now ask the question….
Daily Meditation/Recital/Question
Ask myself daily: “What Page Am I On?”