DEVOTION – DAY 241

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 “Words Of Wisdom”

 

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.”

 

Towards the end of his letter to the church in Corinth, the apostle Paul wrote words of encouragement to the Corinthians to be on their guard. The people in that church were immature. Issues of immorality was affecting the unity of the people in church and Paul wrote his letter specifically to warn the Corinthians to guard their hearts against immorality, to guard themselves against pagan practices, to beware of false preaching, and abuses when they conduct the Lord’s Supper. There was also a need to stand firm in their faith in order for them to discern false preaching and teaching when they were exposed to it. The city of Corinth was known for its immorality and the active worship of the goddess Aphrodite fostered prostitution in the name of religion. In the face of such immorality, Paul encouraged the Corinthian church to be courageous and strong. They were to serve and love each other as they build the church together in Corinth.

 

Today, Paul is calling us to do the same wherever we are. We too live in an age where there is much immorality. There is corruption amongst business people, amongst politicians, and so on. We also live in an age where there is much false teaching and preaching. The Muslims teach that Jesus is a prophet, not the Son of God and Lord. The Mormons claim that their founder, Joseph Smith, had been given additional revelations from God that they compiled in the Book of Mormon. Such claims are false because the Bible as we know it is the entire and final revelation of God. Anyone claiming additional revelations are false. We need to be on guard and stand firm in our faith. We need to be courageous and stand up for our faith and be strong when people call Christians “narrow minded” because Christians insist that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. When other faiths criticize Christianity as divisive and exclusive and try to promote inter-faith and religious tolerance, we need to be strong in our faith and to show love to a world that badly needs God’s love. Paul’s words of encouragement and exhortation in 1 Cor.16:13-14 is just as relevant today as it was in his day.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, please help us to remain firm in our faith, to guard our hearts and minds against false teaching and preaching. Please help us to guard against worldliness so that we can be instruments of your blessing to the world that needs your grace and love. In the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. What false teaching must you guard your hearts and minds from? Discuss.
  2. Why is it important for you to remain firm in your faith? Discuss.
  3. How can you remain courageous and strong in the face of opposition and/or persecution? Discuss.
  4. What does “doing everything in love” mean to you? Share and discuss.