Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: Psalms 135-139
     New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 16

Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Do everything in love (1 Corinthians 16:13-14).

As he concludes his letter, Paul gives five final admonitions. The Corinthians were acting as immature believers and most of their issues would be resolved if they would grow up in Christ. Paul gave specific advice for each of the problems throughout the letter and in closing gives these five commands as marks of a mature believer.

First, mature believers are to be alert and on your guard. We need to be prepared for both attacks and opportunities. Christians need to be on alert for attacks by Satan to tempt us to sin. Peter said; Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour (1 Peter 5:8). Additionally, we need to be alert to have a clear vision to take advantage of opportunities to spread the gospel message and minister to others (1 Cor. 9:19-27).

Next, mature believers are to stand firm in the faith. Jesus said, Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock (Matt 7: 24-25). The Word of God is our solid rock. We not only need to know God’s Word but also, we need to be obedient and apply the truths to our lives to stand firm (James 1:22-25).

Third, mature believers are to be courageous. The great missionary Hudson Taylor said, “Many Christians estimate difficulties in the light of their own resources, and thus attempt little and often fail in the little they attempt. All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on His power and presence with them.” Our courage is to come from the Lord and through Him we can have the power to overcome any obstacles in our ministry (2 Cor 1:9-10).

Next, mature believers are to be strong. When Joshua took over the leadership of Israel from Moses, God told him, Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their ancestors to give them as an inheritance. Above all, be strong and very courageous to observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:6-9). Our strength comes from God when we carefully observe everything that is written in God’s Word and we meditate on it day and night.

Last but not least, mature believers are to do everything in love. The Apostle John was known as the Apostle of Love. He wrote, Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another (1 John 4:10-11). God loved us unconditionally and we are to love others unconditionally. Christians are to put the well-being of others ahead of ourselves.