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Final Exhortation
Richard Waialeale1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NIV)
13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
14 Do everything in love.
I love Paul’s final instructions to the Corinthians:
Be on your guard, or be smart in carrying out the will of God, give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. Always stand firm in the faith. When Paul says to be men of courage and be strong, he’s saying to be marked by maturity and not infants that are easily swept aside. Then finally, be diligent and committed if everything is to be done in love.
The key here was the love he had for the people. He loved them and saw the potential of the Gospels moving in a mighty way. I must do whatever it takes to save lives and win souls over to Jesus. But as I carry out God’s assignment for my life, in everything, I do this in love. Be strong and courageous and remember that relationships always comes first (without sinning to God).
Thank you Lord for the examples and lessons from the Apostle Paul. Thank you for his heart to go all out for Jesus, yet doing everything in love. He shows me such an audacious, infectious spirit of spreading the Good News. I pray to have a smidgen of that Spirit - in Jesus Name I Pray.
