# 10 2016 Devotional I Co. 16:13-14 The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.
I Cor. 16:13 -14
3 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.
14 Do everything in love.
The first section of Chapter 16 is about the collection taken up for the Jerusalem believers. They may have become poor due to a famine or perhaps due to the persecution they were under. Be that as it may, this collection seems to be the beginning of regular collections on Sunday for the work of the Lord and is the basis for our collections today.
The chapter also is preparation for Paul’s upcoming visit to Corinth. He wants to spend time with them and Paul recommends Timothy and Apollos to them. Paul writes I Cor. to address several areas of difficulty in this church particularly moral laxness and it appears that Paul had written them about it previously. Many commentators have suggested that Paul wrote the Corinthians three, if not four times and that I and II Cor. is a combination of those letters.
That may be why the verses we are looking at today seems to be out of place and seems to be inserted into a section concerning Stephanas’ household and their dedication. But that does not take away from the importance of these two verses.
Paul tells us to have five spiritual characteristics: (1) “be on your guard”. He is referring to the moral laxness of this city. As we see today how easy it is for the followers of Jesus to be influenced by the culture around them. (2) “Stand firm in the faith” appears to be a command. Stand on the Word of God as the unchanging standard for your life and faith. (3) “Be courageous” be unafraid, valiant, be convinced of your stand for Jesus. (4) “Be strong” not afraid of ridicule or persecution, unwavering. (5) “Do everything in love”. Love is the bottom line, love those who think differently than you, proclaim your faith in love, love your enemy and love yourself. Love is the most difficult of the five characteristics the Spirit wants us to display: it means practicing patience, kindness, forgiveness, humility, joy, gentleness, self control and living in peace “Love wins”. Jesus teach us your love!
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