1 Corinthians 16:13-14
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV
What does bravery look like to you? Maybe it’s a strong face in the middle of a bad diagnosis. Or perhaps it is the men and women who jump into the midst of burning buildings and war zones to find a save the innocent.What if bravery was having the faith to push through another hard day? The young church in Corinthians was full of different people who had various opinions on how they should meet, their worship, and what living a godly life truly looked like. Sound like what is going on today in churches. Paul, instead of reprimanding the believers in Corinth, encouraged each of them to remember why they were gathering in the first place Jesus. The fact that Jesus Himself experienced various trials and tribulations of His life and ministry reminds us that we can stand courageously in our own trials. Why? Because nothing can happen to us that Jesus Himself does not know, and has not already overcome. Paul's closing words to the Corinthians, are designed to encourage Christians to watch, to be on the alert, to stand firm in the faith and to be strong. Paul is urging the believers at Corinth as well as us today to be of one mind and to make sure that all that they say and all they do is done in love. Every Christian should know the importance of watching and being alert, for we have many enemies that seek our downfall. We are surrounded with many false apostles, false prophets, false teachers, deceitful workers and doctrines of demons. All such things, started to infiltrate the church in the time of Paul and seem and have exploded into multiple fragments of falsity, within some of today's churches. The enemy of our soul seeks to permeate every nook and cranny of Christian life. Indeed we know that the devil himself prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. And that same, the evil enemy, who is called the devil and Satan, will also try to approach us as an angel of light through the medium of deceptive people, false apostles and deceitful workers, who pretend that they are apostles of Christ but their witness and faith is compromised. How important therefore that we are alert, and watchful against the enemy of our soul not only for ourselves but on behalf of all our brothers and sisters in Christ so that together we keep looking to Jesus our blessed Hope. Love is our most disarming weapon against our real enemy, Satan. Our love for God is essential. Our love for our neighbors is vitally important. And, our love for each other is crucial to our survival and our witness. Like the Corinthians, we are also called to be brave and strong in our Christian walk. We are not to compromise our faith but to cling fast to that which is good and noble, right and pure, honorable, admirable and lovely. And we do this as we trust in the Lord with all our heart for He is the Rock our Salvation and the Foundation upon which we stand. We are to be devoted to our brothers and sisters in Christ for we are one Body in Him. Indeed we are members of His Body and united together in Him not only in this life but in the ages to come!!!
Father thank You for this day and Your goodness to us and for instructing us on how to live godly lives to Your praise and glory. Lord open the windows of Heaven and rain down Your abundant blessings upon my friend and family today. Lord may we stand firm in the faith and act in a way that does not dishonour Your name. Lord may we be alert to the evils that surround us and our brothers and sisters in Christ. Lord may we never compromise the truth of the glorious gospel but be strong in the You and in the power of Your might. Lord help us to withstand the wiles of the devil and be alert to his evil ways. Lord may all we say and do be done in love to Your honour and glory. Lord use my friend to be a blessing that someone needs today. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !
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