Stand, Be, Do

Be on guard.  Stand firm in the faith.  Be courageous. Be strong.  Do everything in love. – 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

This verses seems out of place in its context.  Paul is right in the middle of being the lead field missionary.  He is in Ephesus and is writing to the Corinthian church.  He is briefly discussing other missionaries and the leaders of the Corinthian church and then right in the middle of all of that church business he writes these verses.

It is as if forgot to include it earlier and wants to get it down before he writes the salutation of the letter or he realizes that it is easy to lose our courage when we become opposed.  Paul’s enthusiasm, gratefulness, and encouragement leap off the page when I read it.

“Be on guard.”  Look out for those that would destroy your faith, be careful to and ready for them.  “Stand firm in the faith.”  Do not be swayed.  Set your mind on your faith and do not waiver.  Know it more than you know anything else. “Be courageous.”  Take courage and do what is necessary to stand on your faith and be on guard.  Do not be fearful of the attack.  Do not let anything take or diminish your faith.  Do and act when you feel a call from God.  “Be strong”.  If you are on guard and if you are set upon your faith and filled with courage, you are strong. Refuse to be set back or easily conquered.  “Do everything in love.”  With all the strength and courage required to be on guard and standing firm, do not forget to love people.  Do your ministry with a love for others and out of a great love for Jesus.  God who has infinite power over all the world, there is no one stronger or more courageous or more on guard, handles all of us with mercy.  He does not give us what we deserve. He does this through love and there is nothing stronger than love.