March 19, 2019
1 Corinthians 10:1-11 Good News Translation (GNT)
Today is the twelfth day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.” Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God. God offers his children of faith every spiritual advantage, but we cannot lust after the things of the world; it is spiritual rebellion. Faith in God’s Word must govern our choices; therefore, we hunger for God’s holiness. The Word living in us brings a holy alliance with the Lord. Do you realize every passage we read in Scripture is relevant for our lives because it reveals something about our Holy God, as well as the lessons we can learn from either the faithfulness or faith-failures of his people?
We can learn quite a bit today from the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness. They have given us much to ponder. According to Scripture, in the wilderness the people lusted after false gods and immorality (remember the golden calf). They tested the Lord and then complained when he disciplined them. In the book of Numbers, Moses records the complaints of the people, “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness! Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle. Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt” (14:2-4). The people made a choice to rebel, their faith was positioned as they verbalized their will, and God’s power rested on it. Therefore, many died according to their own rebellious words. They put faith to their words in the corrupt system of Egypt (symbolic of the world) and their hope in another leader whom they could control. They preferred bondage over freedom and death over following God. So, God honored their request. Do you understand faith, your will, and the power of your words?
During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart. P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield. May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.