Words of Life, List Form (1 Cor. 10)

This is a rare post as it will be mostly listing, usually defied by my word-hungry soul, but sometimes lists are called for. At the end of I Corinthians 9, Paul is speaking about disciplining his own body while he’s preaching to/teaching others lest he disqualify his words by his actions (26-27). 

As I’ve reread Paul’s words in I Cor. 10, the following stood out to me:

What I Should NOT Do

Because “these things happened” to Israel as an example and “they were written for our instruction upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (v. 11), do not:

1. crave evil things (6).

2. be an idolator (7).

3. act immorally (8).

4. try the LORD (9).

5. grumble (10).

6. be proud . . . “Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” 

    (12).  

What I Should Be Doing

Paul reminds me of some really important things instead of just leaving rules and regulations in his wake. This Pharisee (sinner) in recovery makes sure to extend God’s grace and far more of it than laws. Here are his reminders boiled down into list form:

1. Remember Christ is my spiritual rock (4).
2. Be careful and pay attention (12)
3. Remember trials come to all men (13).
4. Remember God is faithful and in charge (13).
5. Remember God always provides an avenue of escape when His own are faced with temptations (13).
6. Flee idolatry (14).
7. Remember it’s all about Jesus (16).
8. Remember there is ONE body if we are in Christ (17).
9. Remember I have freedom but everything I can do doesn’t necessarily edify (23-29).
10. Seek the good of my neighbor over my own good (24).
11. Remember everything belongs to God—the earth and all the things in it (25-26).
12. Be thankful as I walk through this life (30).
13. Do everything for God’s glory (31).
14. Seek to live at peace with all men, not offending, so “that they may be saved” (32-33).

In considering the rest of the contextual sandwich of I Cor. 9-11, the first verse of chapter 11 reads as such: “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” Honestly, this used to sound horrifying to me. I’ve even heard others make comments that suggested Paul was arrogant in saying such a thing, but it could not be farther from the truth when it is taken in context. The whole book lays the foundation for his statement, which is also found in I Cor. 4:16. 

Paul’s stated mission looks like this: 

1. “ . . . baptize . . . preach the gospel . . . not in cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ should not be made void” (1:11).
2. “determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (2:2).
3. Be a “servant through whom you believed even as the Lord gave opportunity” (3:5).
4. Be “a fool for Christ’s sake . . . weak . . . without honor . . . working . . . reviled . . . persecuted . . . slandered . . . the scum of the world . . . a tutor . . . a father in Christ Jesus . . . ” (4:10).
5. “preach the gospel" having "nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel” (9:16) “without charge” (9:18).
6. “do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it” (9:23).

Paul even goes on to emphasize, “I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God, but by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain (15:9-10a). These are not the words of an arrogant man boasting in his own accomplishments; rather they are words of life to those who read them, stretching out the hope of the gospel to us who are being saved. 

As often happens when I read the Word, it makes music come to mind. Today reading and writing this made me think of two songs. One is the old hymn "Wonderful Words of Life" by Paul Bliss (1874). The other is one of my favorites called "The Word" by Sara Groves featured in a wonderful YouTube video created by beanscot: