Even in the literal presence of God, the people chose their own way rather than God's, and for their flagrant and willful sin, twenty-three thousand were destroyed (vv7-9).
Paul writes that these things happened as an example to us, that "they were written for out instruction" (v11). None of us is immune to temptation. And sometimes I'm guilty of thinking that God's not so close, that He's not all that interested in every little thing I do (or don't do). Sometimes I think if I could see Him, if I knew He was going to swing by for an inspection, I'd clean up my act. Why do I forget that God is omnipresent? And omniscient? Why do I forget that the God who died for me in the person of Jesus Christ is intimately concerned with my life?
Thankfully, there's always a way out (v13). Nothing I experience is unique: all of us have struggled with temptation, with our various lusts. Sometimes we overcome them. Sometimes we just plain don't want to. If we're willing, we can always find the "way out" God provides. Paul doesn't say that taking God's providential exit is necessarily easy, just that it's available.
In verse 14, Paul transitions to the topic of Christian liberty. All who are in Christ are part of the same body—we partake of the same sacrifice. We're exhorted to choose our allegiance: we can't have both-and when it comes to serving God or demons (v21). From this thought, Paul addresses the difference between lawful an edifying: there are all kinds of things we can do, but for our brothers' and sisters' conscience might choose not to do: "Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God" (v32).
Is my liberty causing others to stumble? Am I doing things that give people pause when they consider the gospel and its power? Or its necessity? What changes do I need to pray God would make in my life to better draw people to Him?
"Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor."
—1 Cor 10:24
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