When Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthian church, he was writing to believers experiencing intense division. Power and politics within the church community were causing Christians to stray from Jesus’ teachings and compete with each other. And because of this, the poor were suffering, people were confused about theology, and immorality was being tolerated.
So after calling out their mistakes, and showing them how to live Spirit-filled lives, Paul summarizes his desire for the Corinthians with these words:
“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NLT
Be on guard…
Paul uses this phrase to remind his friends to watch over their lives, community, and choices. He knew that if they didn’t stay aware, they wouldn’t notice the lies, tricks, or deceptions the devil used to infiltrate their community.
Stand firm…
Immorality was a major issue in the Corinthian church. But instead of addressing this problem, Corinthian Christians tolerated it. So Paul reminded them that they were one body. If one person was allowed to disrespect God, then they were all part of the problem. They needed to learn how to stand firm in their faith so that their ultimate desire would be to please God, not people.
Be courageous. Be strong…
In order to resist spiritual attacks, the Corinthians needed to stand strong together. They needed to courageously use their gifts and talents to strengthen their church community and help it grow—even when it seemed counter-cultural and uncomfortable.
…And do everything in love.
In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul writes that even if he could be perfect, do everything right, never sin, and always keep God’s commands—if he didn’t have love, it would mean nothing. Strength, courage, and commitment—none of it matters if God’s love isn’t at the center of everything we think and do.
If God’s love doesn’t define us, standing firm can become self-righteousness, strength can turn into stubbornness, and courage can become arrogance. God invited us to a better way.
Believers are called to live with conviction and strength and to do so in love,
Amen
