In Philippians 4:1 the apostle Paul told the church, “Stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.” However, in I Corinthians 10:12 he wrote, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” Sounds like standing firm has a lot to do with humility and authenticity and honesty and teachableness.

Self-honesty is crucial to a vital and thriving walk with God. No time for games here. No time for pretending that things are what they are not. The ancient Israelites were so blessed by God that it is difficult to grasp fully. Still, many of them just could not allow God to be God in them. Paul says of them that they “all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking for a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ” (I Cor. 10:4).

These people had so much going for them it was incredible. Yet, in verse five we read, “Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased.” Why? The bible says they craved things that were not of God, they were idolaters, they acted immorally, they grumbled against God (see I Cor. 10:6-10). Talk about biting the hand that fed them, the people did that and more.

Before we scold them too harshly, though, there are a couple of verses we need to hear. Verse six says, “These things happened as examples for us.” Verse 11 says, “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction.”

The truth of the matter is that we have our own issues. We don’t have the luxury of fixing everybody else. The question is, how are we doing? Are we open to God? Are we in love with God? Are we living For God? Really! If so, then we can stand firm, with confidence.