A Prayer to Preserve and Study the Past - Your Daily Prayer - May 8

A Prayer to Preserve and Study the Past
By Sophia Bricker

Bible Reading:
“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: ‘The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.’ We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:6-12, NIV).

Listen or Read Below:

The old farmhouse looked as if it had turned wild. It sat in the middle of a field of weeds, and to enter the historic site, visitors must wade through the sea of tall grass. Swarms of June bugs zoomed by, deterring some who wanted to enter, including me. However, after watching my father and sister hurry through the weeds and bugs, I decided I wanted to see what was inside. So, I did what any scared kid would do–I closed my eyes and dashed through the cloud of foliage and swarm. 

My reward was not the air-conditioned, preserved homestead I expected. Instead, the inside was just as uncared for as the wild field. Rooms had been kept exactly as they would have looked, with old furniture and frames of antique photographs. But the air was stale and moldy. Cobwebs filled corners. Thick layers of dust covered beds. Other residents had also taken up occupancy in the house: a nest of wasps. They hovered through the rooms as if they, too, were part of the crowds of tourists. After encountering an especially angry wasp in the hallway, I told my dad that I was ready to leave.

Stories were waiting to be told there, of the family who had lived on that piece of farmland. I doubt, though, if it will ever be properly told or preserved since the house was left to the elements. Sure, visitors can still see the home, but without proper upkeep, the place will eventually decay alongside its history. It will completely become one with the field of weeds.

The same is true in our walk with Jesus. If we do not actively take steps to remember the work of God in the past, and the historical events that occurred as recorded in Scripture, then we will eventually forget–and make the same mistakes as our spiritual forebearers. 

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul reminds his readers about Israel’s past. They had all witnessed the glory of God in the wilderness and were baptized “in the cloud and in the sea” (1 Corinthians 10:2, NIV). They also drank the water that sprung from the rock, which symbolized the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:4). Yet this did not prevent them from succumbing to temptation. Though we might think that those moments were isolated events and unrelated to us today, Paul reminds us that they serve as examples for us. As he wrote, “These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age” (1 Corinthians 10:11, NLT). 

God regularly encouraged Israel to remember their past, and He does the same for Christ followers. We can easily dismiss these past accounts, such as the golden calf incident or the venomous snakes in the wilderness, as interesting stories that do not apply to us today. Paul’s words show us otherwise, as we should heed the warning of their example. We can gain valuable lessons about the sin of grumbling against the Lord or engaging in 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, may we make an effort to remember the historical basis of our faith by reading the Bible––including the books that we might deem as less interesting or important––and apply what they teach in our lives. May we actively preserve the memory of how the Lord has worked and engage with the past rather than disregard it or let it decay. Not only will doing so protect us from the snares of sin, but it will help us grow into more fruitful followers. 

Let’s Pray:

God, thank You for providing us with Your Word, which has everything we need to faithfully follow You. Help me create rhythms in my life that encourage me to remember how You worked in the past and to learn from the saints of old. I do not want to skip over parts of Scripture that can contribute to my growth merely because I think the account or passage is somehow divorced from daily life.

Increase in me the desire to be a faithful student of Your Word, including the Old and New Testament, so that I can learn from those who have gone ahead as I step out in faith today. And may I not be a reader only, but a doer of the Word.

In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Join the conversation! Share how today’s devotional spoke to you on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Elijah Hail 

Sophia Bricker is a writer. Her mission is to help others grow in their relationship with Jesus through thoughtful articles, devotionals, and stories. She completed a BA and MA in Christian ministry which included extensive study of the Bible and theology, as well as an MFA in creative writing. You can read her thoughts about literature and faith at The Cross, a Pen, and a Page Substack, or visit the discipleship-based site  Cultivate, where she writes with her sister.

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