MEMORISE: For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4
BIBLE READING:1 Corinthians 10:11-12
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
MESSAGE:
Experience, they say, is the best teacher. However, there are two ways to learn from experience: personally or through the experience of others. Learning from the experiences of others is often better because personal experiences can be painful.
When I was a little boy, I used to see my older brother as being very strong. He was muscular and could carry heavy things. One day, he offended our father, and my father beat him so much that he began to shed tears like a baby. On seeing that, I made up my mind that | Would never do anything to offend my father because I didn’t want to get beaten by him.
My dear child, you can live a better life as a Christian if you learn from other people’s experiences. Samson’s downfall shows that fornication is a destroyer of destinies (Judges 16). The life of Gehazi also shows how greed can bring shame to a person and his or her descendants (2 Kings 5:20-27). The life of Dinah, Jacob’s daughter, reveals why it is dangerous to make friends with people of the world (Genesis 34). The instant death of Ananias and Sapphira reveals why you must never lie to a genuine man of God filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-11). Learn from the experiences of others and avoid making the same mistakes they made.
ACTION POINT:
Identify five lessons that you can learn from the negative experience of some characters in the Bible.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Luke 4:33-44, Joshua 14-15