Lent Day 28

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith;

be courageous; be strong.

Do everything in love.

Paul wrote these words to the Corinthians to encourage them until his next visit.   They are words for the people to act with courage and strength in obedience to God, and with confidence in his power.   This is not a new command from Paul, but rather one that was given frequently in the Old Testament (Deut 31:6-7, Josh 1:6-7, 10:25, 1 Chron 28:20).  God and Moses both used these words when they commissioned Joshua to lead God’s people into the promise land.  David spoke these words to Soloman when he commissioned him to build the temple.  Both of these tasks seemed impossible and would require strength, courage, trust and perseverance to accomplish.  But before each of them started, they were given words to point them in the direction of success.  They both were instructed to draw strength and courage from the source of strength and courage, not to rely on themselves and become afraid or dismayed.  

Paul also knew the dangers facing the new church and how volatile the people were to influences other than God. So he gave them these instructions to follow, to protect the church and the body of Christ. 

Be on your guard:  constantly be on guard against enemies that may threaten the church through division, pride, sin, disorder or incorrect theology

Stand firm in the faith:  we are to stand firm in our belief of the Gospel, united as a body of Christ in our beliefs to maintain the common purpose of serving God. 

Be courageous:  to stand up against what is wrong in the church, against false teachers, against sin in the church.  Be courageous to uphold the law of God as instructed to us through His word.  

Be strong:  not by our own power but by the strength given by the Holy Spirit.

Do everything in love:  love is indispensable, absolutely necessary.  Christ’s work cannot be done without it, for all actions of love glorify God, actions without love only glorify ourselves.  

These words are no less important for us today as we wait on the return of Christ.  For it is our responsibility to protect the house of God and be united in Him, to remain faithful to the word, uphold His truth, protect against false teachers, stand firm in our beliefs, act in strength of the Holy Spirit and above all else proceed in love.   These words apply to ourselves as individuals as we are the body of Christ.  We become united in our church when we as individuals are united with God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  We are His example to the world, and by believing in Christ and receiving God’s promise of salvation we have accepted the responsibility of living out His commands and being the face of Jesus.   Not something that is always easy when facing the world, and makes Paul’s words just as relevant today. 

Be on Guard

Stand Firm

Be Courageous

Be Strong

Do Everything in Love

Peace and Love,

LeAnn