A weekday morning devotional series written by Aaron Marcarelli and hosted by Chad McBeam
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV
One of my best friends JP sent me this verse in conjunction with yesterday’s devotional. I have been friends with JP 39 years, He was my Young Life leader and he has helped me cultivate and follow Christ for a long time. He always has great insights and adds so much to my life. I would not be where I am today spiritually without the amazing and awesome friendship of JP.
These verses in 1 Corinthians 16 are meant by Paul as a salutation to his friends in Corinth. Yet if we as followers of Christ lived by these words, just think how many people would be followers of Christ as well!
“Be on your guard”Yesterday I wrote about how we always need to be on guard by putting on the full Armour of God. (Ephesians 6)
“Stand firm in the faith!” The only way we do that is the worship Him by being in the word, singing praises to His name and prayer. (Hebrews 11)
“Be courageous!” It is not our flesh that needs to be courageous, it is our trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to give us the courage to say and do what the Heavenly Father asks of us. (Acts 2-3).
“Be strong!” Again not our strength but His strength through the power of The Holy Spirit. The only way we get strong is by working out diligently with a purpose and a plan. (1st Corinthians 9).
“Do everything in Love!” All too often we as followers of Christ become like the Pharisees and become way too judgmental. We correct others or find fault with others because we want to be “better” than others. We do not do it out of love! The world sees our judgmental attitude and wants nothing to do with our God who they think is a condemning, judgmental monster. If all our actions are out of love then we are truly living like Christ! (Matthew 5 & 19)
Lord we thank you your words of encouragement. Thank you for your saving grace which is the forgiveness of sin through Christ’s birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension. This gift is eternal life with you. Help us to Be on our guard; to stand firm in the faith; to be courageous; to be strong and to do everything in love. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen…
Shalom Blessings and Press In and Press On!