1 Corinthians 10:11-12 (The Message)
11 These are all warning markers--DANGER!-in our history books, written down so
that we don't repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel--
they at the beginning, we at the end--and we are just as capable of messing it
up as they were. 12 Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt.
You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-
confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence.
The apostles were trying to convince the Corinthians not to have communion with
idolaters. Examples of the past were set before them as reminders of what had
happened before for ignoring the Lord. They were told history serves as
reminders not to repeat mistakes. No one is exempt and it's easy for every to
fall to sin. It's not self confidence that keeps one from sin, but confidence
in God.
The mistakes and concerns the apostles were addressing over 2000 years ago are
still being made today. We are just as capable of messing up as they were. They
were back at the beginning of history and now we are towards the end. And just
like those in the past we are not exempt from falling on our face for being
overly self confident. The problem is when we become reliant on self our need
for God diminishes. As the words of The Message says, we need to CULTIVATE GOD-
CONFIDENCE. We need to let God work in our lives to the point we have full
confidence in everything He will do. Where are you with your confidence in God.
Pray that God will show you how confident you are in Him. Pray that God will
cultivate your confidence in Him. Look for opportunities for God to show you
what He can do in your life.