1 Corinthians 10:1-33
What is our purpose and how can we order our lives so that they are pleasing to God? This is the subject to which Paul turns. The children of Israel were not pleasing to God in many ways and their story should serve as a warning and example to us. Here is what we should do with our lives in order to please God.
SANCTIFY OURSELVES: God wants a people who are set apart for His honor and glory. He has revealed what He wants us to do and how He would have us to live. As we learn from the children of Israel, we are to separate ourselves from idolatry, immorality, testing God and grumbling. God punished all of these sins very severely in His people, and we can expect Him to do the same in our lives. Unfortunately we live in a society where all of these things are readily available and are seen as the normal way of life. However, no matter how much we may be tempted in one or more of these areas, God has promised to provide His children with relief and give us a way of escape. We must be faithful to take that escape and look to and depend upon to Lord to empower us to life a sanctified life before others.
EDIFY OUR NEIGHBORS: We do not live for our own comfort or to fulfill our own desires in this life. God has called us to serve those He has placed around us and to encourage them in their walks with God. We must limit ourselves in light of the needs of others. Our desires or preferences are not the priority, God has called us to prioritize the well being of others. We don't need to investigate every situation, as it may be better for us and others not to know all of the details surrounding a food or cultural event. As long as we are not offending our conscience or the conscience of others, we can feel free to proceed.
GLORIFY OUR GOD: In everything that we do, God has called us to glorify Him. This must be the overriding purpose in all aspects of our lives. When we draw attention to ourselves or try to stand up for what we consider to be our "rights" we only become distracted from that which the Lord has called us to do. His glory must be our priority. Only as we live according to this standard will we fulfill our purpose in life.
SANCTIFY OURSELVES: God wants a people who are set apart for His honor and glory. He has revealed what He wants us to do and how He would have us to live. As we learn from the children of Israel, we are to separate ourselves from idolatry, immorality, testing God and grumbling. God punished all of these sins very severely in His people, and we can expect Him to do the same in our lives. Unfortunately we live in a society where all of these things are readily available and are seen as the normal way of life. However, no matter how much we may be tempted in one or more of these areas, God has promised to provide His children with relief and give us a way of escape. We must be faithful to take that escape and look to and depend upon to Lord to empower us to life a sanctified life before others.
EDIFY OUR NEIGHBORS: We do not live for our own comfort or to fulfill our own desires in this life. God has called us to serve those He has placed around us and to encourage them in their walks with God. We must limit ourselves in light of the needs of others. Our desires or preferences are not the priority, God has called us to prioritize the well being of others. We don't need to investigate every situation, as it may be better for us and others not to know all of the details surrounding a food or cultural event. As long as we are not offending our conscience or the conscience of others, we can feel free to proceed.
GLORIFY OUR GOD: In everything that we do, God has called us to glorify Him. This must be the overriding purpose in all aspects of our lives. When we draw attention to ourselves or try to stand up for what we consider to be our "rights" we only become distracted from that which the Lord has called us to do. His glory must be our priority. Only as we live according to this standard will we fulfill our purpose in life.
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