Stand Firm in the Faith

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Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NKJV)

13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done with love.

Devotion:

            The above scripture is short but has powerful meaning for today’s culture. We live in a time where traditional values are disappearing more each and every day. If we are truly watching, we will see the changes that are occurring all around us. The tendency is for us to withdraw from culture. Even to abandon some core beliefs and principles in order to conform to the changing social structures around us. That is not what Paul is calling us to here in these verses.

            Rather than withdraw from culture we are called to do three things in this scripture passage. First, we are to watch. We cannot hope to have any effect on our culture if we do not know what is going on in the culture. Watching involves more than just looking absent mindedly at what is happening around us each day. We are called to really see what is actually happening around us and reflect on what it means for us as followers of Jesus. It requires a concentration of our powers of observation that most of us, growing up in the internet age, sadly lack. However, we are nonetheless called to watch carefully and discern the times in which we live.

            Next, we are called to “stand fast in the faith.” This takes courage and can really only be done after one has actually watched the culture and seen how the culture is changing. It means that we are to be a stable and secure person regardless of the changes going on around us. Unfortunately, our culture works against our stability with assaults on our senses urging us to lust, covet and all manner of commandment breaking behavior. It must be noted of the verbs in this passage this is the only one that is in the imperative. We are commanded to stand fast.

            The verb translated “be brave, be strong” is really just one word and it is translated literally “be manly.” Apparently, the winds of culture have blown strong enough to render this an unacceptable translation for our 21st century world. That aside, the idea here is that we are called to stand up and oppose cultural changes that are forcing us to retreat from our faith. It is a call to realize that Jesus meant what he said to his disciples when he said, “the gates of hell shall not prevail against is” (Matthew 16:18).

            The next verse is really a summary statement to what Paul has written in chapters 12-15. It also is clearly the command of Jesus. That is, we are to love God and one another in everything we do. It clearly rules out any harsh words or actions. It calls us to love as Paul had just written in the 13th chapter of this letter to the Corinthians.

            So, to sum it all up, we are to watch our culture, stand firm regardless of what the culture throws at us, and be brave and courageous in the face of danger. We are to do all these things with love for God and our neighbors ruling our lives. Let us pray that God will give us the strength, courage, and love to carry forward the kingdom. Let it be on earth as in heaven. Amen.

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