1 Corinthians 16:13–14: “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.”

May 27th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

In these 2 verses, the Apostle Paul uses 4 words that are normally used as military commands. These are inspiring and encouraging commands that every person who calls themselves a follower of Jesus Christ should meditate on.

1) “Watch.” He commands us to be alert or to watch. The original word means to “keep on staying awake” or keep on watching, being discerning, listening, and paying attention.

2) “Stand fast in the faith.” We are to stand firm, or to persist with conviction, in our faith in God. Of course we must first be certain that we are Scripturally correct, and then when we are, we need to lock in and not be moved.

3) “Be brave.” This means literally that we are to “show oneself a man.” This is the only place in the New Testament that this word is used to mean “play the part of a man.” Paul is saying don’t be child-like, be brave enough to be the mature man or woman of God you are supposed to be, not being afraid of going against the flow.

4) “Be strong.” This is similar to “be brave,” but it means to be continually growing or increasing in spiritual strength. This does not mean trusting our own abilities or self-confidence. Real strength is refusing to be intimidated by what other people say or think, being instead concerned with what God thinks.

Paul rounds off this list of commands with the command to love. Love is the underlying motivation and theme repeated many times throughout this letter to the Corinthians. He commands us in chapter 14 to “pursue love,” and now he broadens that pursuit to include everything said and done in our lives. We are to hold up our every thought and action against the highest standard—love.

Yes, we are to be strong, stand fast, and be brave but not at the expense of running over people. God is love and wants us to be the same. God cares what happens to individuals. It really matters to Him and it needs to matter to us too. George Muller, who started many orphanages without any personal salary, relied on God to supply the money and food needed to support the 100s of homeless children he took care of throughout his lifetime. A man of joyful faith, he kept a little sign on his desk for many years that brought comfort, strength, and uplifting confidence to his heart. It read: “It matters to Him about you.”

“LORD, give us Your heart for the lost today.”