Thursday Morning Thankfulness – Epistles of Paul

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)

Five Points

In our packaged world of wrapped plastic we like our chicken cut up for us, salads premixed, drinks bound together and rice in a box. The idea is that we like easy things. There are some easy things in the Bible that give a few bullets to consider and help us become better disciples for Christ. Paul concludes his first letter to Corinth with a short exhortation for a group of disciples that were filled with a lot of confusion. The Corinthian church was a mess. Regardless of their failings they were still the church of God and the church of God at Corinth needed some things to help build them up. Check out the five points of our text.

1. Be watchful – We must be aware of the challenges we face and how to overcome them. Be people of awareness for sin but also be aware of those who need us. Being watchful is to be careful of the wiles of devil. Stay awake. Be on alert. Look for opportunities to help a brother or sister today. Don’t neglect a moment today when you can share your love for Christ.
2. Stand firm in the faith – Be assured of your salvation. When you go to work today resolve to be a person of faith. Do not let your schoolmates see a wavering in your moral character today. As you are about in the community let others see the resolve of truthfulness in your actions. Today is a day of faith.
3. Act like men – It takes courage to face some days. On this fifth day of the week remember the commitment you made on the Lord’s day to serve the crucified Christ. The purpose of fellowship on the first day of the week is to know that others will have the same courage as you to stand firm in the faith – today. Be brave. God is with you and what else do you need.
4. Be strong – Here is where the action comes in. Strength of character is found when character is strengthened by showing faith in our lives today. Do not be afraid to use God’s name for glory today. Shine as husbands and wives who share the love of God in their family life. Be people of purpose today to show our strength lies in the merciful God we love.
5. Let all that you do be done in love – Notice Paul says that everything we do is to be motivated by love. The fellow who cuts you off today on the highway; the rude clerk; the impossible boss; the derelict service man; the agonies of today should be dealt with in love. Bite the tongue – that’s love. Counting to one hundred before blowing up – that’s love. Helping an elderly lady with her shopping cart – love. Telling someone how much you appreciate them – love again. The list could go on – you fill in the blanks. Think love today. Live love today. Be love today.

Five points. Five resolutions. Five ways to make today a great day for God.

Your character is what God knows you to be. Your reputation is what men think you are.