1 Corinthians 10

11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

10:11 - The things that happened to all the people were examples. Just like all the people of Sodom and Gamora were examples. Not just for their time periods, but for all that believe down the ages. I would hate being chronicled as one of those people. This was done for our benefit. Just like when you see people being punished for their crimes. They are being made examples for our benefit.

What does Paul mean by "on whom the fullfillment of the ages has come". Is he trying to say that Christ has received the punishment for all these sins? That these examples have been placed on Him? I don't know.

10:12 - So many times I've thought I had been standing firm. So easily I slip and fall. Sometimes I don't even realize it when I do until it's too late.

10:13 - All temptations are the same. They are the same temptations that have plagued man since Adam's fall. This is not to say that they do not vary in intensity. One person's struggle with pride may be miniscule in comparison to another man's struggle with lust. This cross comparison is not quantifiable though. No one has the right to say they are being tempted harder than others, they just don't know.

I hear this verse a lot: "He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear." Is it me? Is it my lack of faith in His promise? Why am I still tempted so, and why do I slip so easily? I think I give in too easily. I don't fight the temptations because I don't truly hate them. I'm not really willing to give it up and I haven't internalized the severity of those sins.

Even when He provides a way out, I am so clouded by my own sin and my own temptations that I cannot see it. Sometimes I know what I should do, but it's so difficult for me. I'm sure it's not just me though, everyone struggles.

1 Corinthians 10

1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.
6 Now these things occurred as examples[1] to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry."[2] 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did--and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did--and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did--and were killed by the destroying angel.

10:1-2 - What does Paul mean by "under the cloud" and "through the sea"? If we assume that these things were Christ, then it fits in very well with verse 2. We are really no different then the Israelites. We are under the same rules that they were under. We are under the same obligations.

10:3-4 - The spiritual food was the word of God. We are to live off of that as well. The spiritual drink flowed from the split rock. In the same way, Christ was split for us, so that we may have drink of His mercies through the Holy Spirit. We are no different than the Israelites.

10:5 - If the first 4 verses was relating us to the Israelites, this verse must be as well. Is Paul trying to say that most of us will be scattered like they were? Maybe, if we don't heed the warnings.

10:6 - The Israelites are our spiritual brothers. They went through similar distractions and temptations as we do. Even in the time of the honeymoon, in the dessert, they still turned from God. How many times do we turn from God? I see myself turning all the time, increasing grace.

10:7 - The way they sat to eat and drink seems analogous to the eucharist. Afterwards they got up and indulged in pagan revelry. I see this all the time. Acting a certain way in church, but the moment service is over, they're completely different. People need to understand that church isn't a lifestyle, it's your life.

10:8 - My biggest sin. The one thing i struggle the most with. It's so easy to fall into this temptation. Especially with highspeed internet. Even just being in close proximity to the opposite sex is a temptation. It's so easy for me to fall too.

10:9 - It's hard for me to know what's testing the Lord and what's having faith. I'm sure if I had more discernment it'd be easier for me to say.

10:10 - The youth really need to take this verse to heart. All they do is grumble, wherever they go. They get their discipline regardless.

1 Corinthians 9

13 But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast. 16 Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it.
19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

9:13-14 - Our reward is not one of money or material things, but of spiritual things. We serve God not for the promise for riches, but for the hope of fruit. As I continue to work with the Youth Group and begin to work with SOAR, I look to the hope of fruit. This is the payment for my sacrifices. This is all I want.

9:15 - Paul is talking about the right that he earn something. It is commanded that he should live off of the gospel, but this is not something he wants. Is Paul being sarcastic when he says "[i don't want to] have anyone deprive me of this boast"? What does he mean? Paul answers it in the following verse.

9:16 - We are urged by the spirit to preach the gospel. It is not something that we do on our own or on our own strength. It is the Holy Spirit within us that drives us, gives us the words to speak, gives us that heart of love.At the same time, if I don't preach the gospel, what does that mean for me?

If I don't preach the gospel, there is something wrong with me. Do I really love Jesus as much as I say I do? Am I really being obedient? Am I truly worshipping Him? No. If we don't preach the gospel, is the spirit living in us?

9:17 - Now if I do preach, there are reasons for it. 1) because I want to, thus getting a reward. 2) because I have to, but I am giving up what has been entrusted to me.

9:18 - Obviously, we want to do it because we want to, not because we have to. We want that reward, that carrot placed before our beaks. It is exactly the opposite of v.13, that we receive no earthly things from our preaching or our rights from preaching.

9:19-22 - We are to be in the world, but not a part of it. In order to better serve my fellow brothers and sisters, in order to reach those people, I will become like them. I will get to know their likes and dislikes. I will learn of their ways. I think of myself in relation to the young kids. I hate popular music, but I would listen to it to get to know them. To better understand them. I am not interested in sports, but I started watching hockey as a gateway sports into the others: basketball, football. Even if not to preach the gospel, to fellowship.

This is the way we ought live our lives. In constant submission and servitude to others. In serving others, we are really serving our Lord Jesus Christ, why wouldn't we want to serve them?

9:23 - I do all this, the preaching, not taking any sort of reward, serving the people, for the blessing that is the gospel.

9:24 - We ought to live our lives as if we're in a race. Everyone is running, running for that final goal. But before we can win the prize, we must desire it first. Do we desire the things of God so it makes us run hard? Sometimes I become distracted and I look at the scenery. But I must want that prize with all that I have, so I may run after it with all that I have.

9:25-26 - This race that we are a part of is not just for some golden lauren. Rather it is for eternity.

9:27 - I need the discipline. My body, this flesh, needs to be beat into submission so that I may receive the prize. Everyday is a constant struggle to be obedient, to be loving, to be faithful.