SCRIPTURE: 1Corinthians (NIV) 10:11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warning for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
OBSERVATION: These things happened TO THEM…as a warning FOR US. In the previous verses, four examples are given: idolatry, sexual immorality, testing God, and grumbling. Each was punished by God and recorded so that others would learn.
APPLICATION: It is good for me to learn from the mistakes of others. Although not the only place, surely one of the best places to learn such lessons is in the Bible. The Bible does not hide the sins and mistakes of leaders. How I limit my understanding of God’s ways when I neglect reading His Word!
And it is good to let others learn from my mistakes. I should not allow the sin of pride to cause me to hide my mistakes from those under my authority or influence, especially from children. They too will make mistakes, so they need a good example of acknowledging their wrongs. They need a good example of how to apologize. They need a good example of how to depend on the indwelling Holy Spirit for the change needed.
Our lives are too valuable to ignore the lessons to be learned from mistakes. I can forgive someone their sin against me, but I can also learn from it so that I do not sin against someone else. And by not hiding my sins, I am allowing others to learn from me.
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the Bible! Thank you for not covering up the faults of the leaders. I do not have to be perfect to be used by You. Lord, may I be a good example of how to repent and apologize to others. Use me as an example of how to overcome temptation and failure. Amen
Pastor Leon
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