Tuesday, March 1, 2016
1 Corinthians 10:1-5 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness....
BE FAITHFUL TO OUR FAITHFUL GOD (2)
Think of God's lavish grace towards the Israelites. Under Moses' leadership God led them through the Red Sea and out of Egyptian bondage. For forty years He guided and cared for them in the wilderness, providing manna (bread) from heaven and water from the rock. He led them with the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night -- a kind of visible "baptism" by which God assured them of His presence.
"But," says Paul, "with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness." What a sad statement. Of 600,000 men twenty years and older who left Egypt, only two, Joshua and Caleb, lived to enter the Promised Land. Why? Simply put, Israel took God's grace lightly; they cheapened it; they were unfaithful. Instead of relying on God, they turned to human pride and self-reliance. And so they met God's judgment.
Through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism we too were immersed in God's forgiving and renewing grace. He has brought us to faith in Christ, our Rock. He has adopted us into His family as members of Christ's body, His Church. Time and again we have opportunity to hear His Word as well, and to partake of the Sacrament of the Altar where Jesus' body and blood are given us for the assurance of the remission of all sins.
That we are ever numbered among those with whom God is well pleased, may the Holy Spirit keep us faithful to our faithful God.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood From Thy riven side which flowed
Be of sin the double cure, Cleanse me from its guilt and pow'r.
Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly--wash me, Savior, or I die!
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 376:1, 3)
