I Corinthians 16:13-14 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 14 Do everything in love. NIV

Paul is in the process of concluding his letter to the Corinthians. He sends greetings to various people and passes on greetings from others to them. Yet right in the middle of all this he takes time to encourage them to stay alert for opposition and be true to the words and truths he had just finished writing to them.

When I thought about it for a bit (ok, maybe it was awhile) it occurred to me that maybe Paul knew that they would encounter opposition when they sought to live out the truths God had just given them. It seems to me that there is often a large struggle ahead when I have committed myself follow some truth or principle in order to live a life more pleasing to God.. It may be opposition from others around me; it may be a struggle I have with myself (wanting to live in my old ways because they are more comfortable), or even a struggle resulting from the opposition of the evil one. In any case the encouragement and to remain rooted in love make sense if this is the case.

Father, may we be encouraged to stay alert and strong just as the Corinthians were. Above all, may we seek to live lives that are pleasing to you regardless of opposition and discouragements.

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