Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.
In these closing words of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he once again urges his brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage and honor one another. He cites Timothy as a devoted young brother, who seems to a rather reserved young man…and even timid. And so Paul’s advice is to welcome Timothy with gentleness of spirit and not to do anything to make him feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. For Timothy labored hard for the Lord and as a brother in Christ should be received with respect by other members of Christ’s body. And we find that Paul’s closing words to the Corinthians, are designed to encourage Christians to watch, to be on alert, to stand firm in the faith…to act like men and to be strong. Paul is urging the believers at Corinth to be of one mind and to make sure that all they say and all they do is done in love. Every Christian should know the importance of watching and being alert, for we have many enemies that seek our downfall. We are surrounded with many false apostles, false prophets, false teachers, deceitful workers and doctrines of demons. All such things, started to infiltrate the church in the time of Paul and seem to have exploded into multiple fragments of falsity, within today’s apostate churches and heretical cults. The enemy of our soul seeks to permeate every nook and cranny of Christian life. Indeed we know that the devil himself prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. And that same, evil enemy, who is called the devil and Satan, will also try to approach us as an angel of light…through the medium of deceptive people, false apostles and deceitful workers, who pretend that they are apostles of Christ, but their witness and faith is compromised. It is ever important that we are alert, and watchful against the enemy of our soul. Not only for ourselves, but on behalf of all our brothers and sisters in Christ, so that together we keep looking to Jesus…our blessed Hope. Like the Corinthians, we are also called to be brave and strong in our Christian walk. We are not to compromise our faith but to cling fast to that which is good and noble, right and pure…honorable, admirable, and lovely. And we do this as we trust in the Lord with all our heart. For He is the Rock of our Salvation and the Foundation upon which we stand. We are to be devoted to our brothers and sisters in Christ, for we are one Body in Him. Indeed we are members of His Body and united together in Him…not only in this life but in the ages to come.
Spiritual Steve 