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“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NIV)
Be on your guard! I thought about the relevancy of those words as it relates to our military men and women. Tours of duty often put loved ones in dangerous conditions for weeks or months at a time; where being on guard routinely means staying alert to the enemy. Unfortunately, war-like forces aren’t set aside for the military alone, we face personal battles in our lives everyday.
Around A.D. 55, the Apostle Paul wrote the verse in 1st Corinthians to believers in the Corinth church; not to forewarn about an advancing army, but as instruction to be on guard against real threats of a different kind: spiritual threats. The city of Corinth was a seaport center booming with business in trade. In addition to goods and services, immorality and idolatry were thriving, too. The Christians in town were surrounded by corruption, caught in the crossfire of a spiritual warfare. Paul knew the situation called for divine intervention; a renewed commitment to Christ.
Is A.D. 2013 that much different?
Are the sins of immorality and idolatry still alive and well today? Magazines and movies downplay the immoral nature of promiscuity. Power and possessions are displayed proudly as the idols of our time. Yes, our world is filled with deception and wickedness and we are often asked to conform not to take a stand. Quite clearly Paul’s message is still relevant. As Christians, we need to continually be on guard and stand firm in our commitment to Christ.
Study God’s word in the bible to learn and apply His principles in your life. Why? “God is not nearly so interested in stained-glass windows, organ music, congregational hymns, or pastoral prayers as He is in producing love-filled homes, generous hearts, and brave men and women who can live godly lives in the midst of a dark and evil world. His goal for our lives is that we be people of undefiled minds and undefiled hearts, living and projecting His truth and His character in a sin-ridden world.” (excerpt from the book Spiritual Warfare, by Ray Stedman)
