Don't Be Ignorant

Daily Reading: 1 Corinthians 10

Scripture Focus: For I do not want you to be unaware... (1 Corinthians 10.1)

Devotional Thought: Recently Mark, a fellow minister and friend, told me how he had been raised without any meaningful awareness of Jesus. "I'm sure I used the Lord's name in vain a million times without even knowing it was wrong." He understood that people at times do sinful things without realizing their sinfulness. I responded that such people are ignorant. We didn't like that word because it has negative overtones to it, but we decided it captured the essence of what we were saying.

Paul used the word to warn the Corinthians. The word translated "unaware" in verse 10, actually means "ignorant." The Corinthians were mainly Gentile (non-Jewish) believers who did not have an Old Testament background. Paul didn't want them to be ignorant of what had happened to the Jews when they rebelled against God. The Corinthians - in Paul's mind - were in danger of the same attitude that had led to the downfall of the Hebrews in the wilderness. Paul uses several poignant examples of Israel's failure to warn against spiritual smugness. The Corinthians needed to know history in order to avoid repeating it.

Paul desired to educate the Corinthians in order to keep them from error and deliver them from judgment. So, too, we must live our lives in order that others may see the light of God's grace and live in the fullness of spiritual understanding.

I think it was Thomas Jefferson who said, "Ignorance of the law is no excuse in any country. If it were, the laws would lose their effect, because it can always be pretended." Pretending is a dangerous spiritual practice. May God give us knowledge and wisdom so that we are not ignorant.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your Word, for your Spirit, and for faithful Christians that guide us into truth. Deliver us from ignorance so that we may live in the fullness of your blessing and favor. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 17 Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; 18 they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 20 He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. 21 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy! (Psalms 107:17-22)