A FAVORITE LIST
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.
It may just be the Type A in my personality that loves lists. Show me what I need to do and what to check off. This does not always apply to spiritual things. A relationship with our Heavenly Father and Jesus is not based on lists or boxes that we check. But when it comes to our attitude and actions as children of God and ambassadors of the Lord Jesus, lists work quite well.
Paul is finally wrapping up his fairly long letter to the Corinthians. Romans is also a long letter. Romans deals more with doctrine and teaching, while Corinthians deals with more issues within the church. As Paul concludes his letter, he has some final advice for the believers at Corinth.
Watch, or be watchful. In essence, stay spiritually alert. Watching is often associated with prayer. Jesus said, "watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation" Matthew 26:40 ESV This carries the idea of a soldier keeping watch because there were enemies in the area. If you know the enemy is out there, watching is important. We are still in enemy territory. Satan is not our lord, but he is not above trying to tempt and deceive us.
Stand firm in the faith. Stand firm in what we believe. Stand firm in what God's Word says and with what God has whispered to our hearts by the Holy Spirit. We can't stand firm in feelings and live a strong life for God. Feelings come and go and are highly unreliable. Oh, feelings are very real, but we can't build a strong life on them. We are able to stand firm in our faith in God and His word and His Holy Spirit.
Be brave. The ESV version says, "act like men." The term act like men was written long before toxic masculinity became a thing. It was a military term. In ancient times, the women rarely fought, but it was the men who went to war. Act like men was a charge to men facing battle. The New King James Version reads less gender specific when it says, “be brave.” Bravery is not limited to men. We all need bravery, particularly when facing adversity.
Be strong. Paul spoke of being strong in the Lord. He admonished Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Be strong and of good courage were the directions to Joshua as he was tasked with leading God's people. Be strong is something Paul would say. First, because he was inspired by the Holy Spirit, and second, because he knew it required strength to live the life of a believer in a dark world. Notice Paul has not said try before any of these terms.
Let all you do be done with love. This is not a contradiction to watching, standing firm in the faith, being brave and strong. Love is not the timid offspring of gushy feelings and weakness. Love is stronger than all. Paul had already written to the Corinthians that love was the more excellent way. And that of the big three, faith, hope, and love; love was the greatest. Doing everything in love was a choice, a decision that produced action and may or may not involve warm feelings. The choice to love is the choice to follow God.
I love this list—it's short, sweet, and powerful. Putting these five things into practice puts us on a winning path because this is God's way for us.