FIVE EXHORTATIONS (PART 2)

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“...stand firm in the faith.”

1 Corinthians 16:13b

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

“Be on your guard.”

This was the first exhortation Paul gave to the Corinthian Christians as he closed his first letter. Concerned about potential attacks from persecutors outside the church and internal spiritual attacks from Satan, Paul wanted to ensure the Corinthian believers didn’t fall into complacency and leave themselves vulnerable.

But Paul knew the Christians of Corinth were new believers, having just come to find salvation through Jesus and so they would need help in order to remain vigilant and on guard. This leads to the second of five exhortations he gives the Corinthian church as he finishes writing to them for the first time. He tells the Corinthians to “stand firm in the faith”.

Indeed, if the believers in Corinth were going to keep their church strong and viable, they would need to maintain and sustain their faith in the Lord God Almighty and His Son Jesus, their Savior. This means that they would put God and Jesus first, always seeking their help and strength, always relying on their protection and provision. It also meant that they would always remember the scriptures and the promises they offered to those who believed them in faith. These promises included:

“...do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves Me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” Psalm 91:1-15

These assurances from the Word of God exist for a reason. From the very moment they were delivered, they were intended to keep believers firm in their faith, no matter what life might bring, whether it was the Old Testament Israelites, the New Testament Corinthian Christians, or Jesus believers in the church today. Through our God and His Son, we have all we need to not just survive but thrive and when we place our full trust in them, nothing can stand against us.

When challenges rise against the Christian church, Paul’s second exhortation to the Corinthian church rises to the forefront.

The call is to stand firm in the faith because when we do, we can do all things through our Lord who strengthens and protects us.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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