Prayer to preserve and study the past
Written by Sophia Bricker
Bible reading:
“Now these things happened as an example for us not to turn our hearts to evil things like they did. We must not become idolaters, as some of them were. For as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to feast.”” We should not commit sexual immorality as some of them did. And in one day, 23,000 people died. We did not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were killed by serpents. And do not complain, as some of them did—and were slain by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as an example and were written down as a warning to us who have reached the culmination of our times. So, if you think you’re standing firm, be careful not to fall! ” (1 Corinthians 10:6-12, NIV).
Listen or read below:
The old farmhouse seemed to have gone wild. It’s in the middle of a weed field and you have to walk through a sea of tall grass to enter the historic site. A swarm of June bugs approached, discouraging anyone, myself included, from trying to get inside. But as I watched my father and sister rush through the weeds and insects, I decided I wanted to see what was inside. So I did what any scared child would do. I closed my eyes and ran through the clouds of leaves and swarms.
The reward I got was not the air-conditioned preserved mansion I was expecting. Instead, the interior was as untended as a wild field. The room was kept exactly as it appeared, including old furniture and antique photo frames. However, the air was stale and moldy. Spider webs filled every corner. Bed with a thick layer of dust. Other residents had also occupied the house, which contained a wasp nest. They wandered around the room as if they were part of a crowd of tourists. After encountering a particularly angry hornet in the hallway, I told my dad I was ready to go home.
There, the stories of the families who lived on the farm were waiting to be told. However, as the house was left to the elements, it is questionable whether it would ever be properly conveyed and preserved. Sure, visitors can still see the house, but without proper upkeep, the place will eventually decay with its history. It becomes completely integrated with the weed field.
The same is true in our walk with Jesus. If we do not take active steps to remember God’s work in the past and the historical events that occurred as recorded in the Bible, we will eventually forget and make the same mistakes as our spiritual ancestors.
In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul reminds his readers of Israel’s past. They all witnessed the glory of God in the wilderness and were baptized “in the clouds and in the sea” (1 Corinthians 10:2, NIV). They also drank water that came from a rock that symbolized the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:4). But even that did not prevent them from giving in to temptation. We may think that those moments were isolated events and have no relevance to us today, but Paul reminds us that they serve as an example for us. He writes, “These things happened to them as an example for us. They were written to warn us, who live at the end of the age” (1 Corinthians 10:11, NIV).
God regularly encourages Israel to remember the past, and He does the same for followers of Christ. We easily dismiss past stories like the Golden Calf and the Viper of the Wilderness as interesting stories that don’t apply to us today. Paul’s words show that we should heed the warnings of their example. We can learn valuable lessons about the sins of complaining against the Lord and committing sexual immorality. As the apostle wrote to his friend Timothy, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16, NIV).
So why not read the Bible, even books that may seem of little interest or importance, to remember the historical foundations of your faith and try to apply its teachings to your life? May we actively preserve and engage with the past, rather than ignoring or allowing it to rot away, the memory of how the Lord has worked for us. Doing so not only protects us from the traps of sin, but also helps us grow into more fruitful followers.
Let’s pray:
Thank you, God, for giving us your Word, which is filled with everything we need to faithfully follow You. Help us to create a rhythm in our lives that encourages us to remember how You have worked in the past and to learn from the saints of old. I don’t want to skip over parts of the Bible that can help me grow simply because I think the writing or verse is disconnected from my daily life.
A desire grows within me to be a faithful student of Your Word, including the Old and New Testaments, so that I can learn from those who came before me as I step out in faith today. And may I not be just a reader, but a doer of the Word.
I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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Photo credit: Unsplash/Elijah Hail
Sophia Bricker is a writer. Her mission is to help people grow in their relationship with Jesus through thoughtful articles, devotions, and stories. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Christian Ministry, which included extensive study in the Bible and theology, as well as a master’s degree in creative writing. You can read her thoughts on literature and faith in The Cross, a Pen, and a Page Substack. You can also visit Cultivate, a disciple-based site she writes with her sister.
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