Following Instructions
Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
My mom was like a drill sergeant when I was growing up. It was not that she wasn’t loving because she most certainly was. But she was tough. I do not begrudge her for that because it helped me be a better person and parent. She was adamant that my two brothers and me followed through on what her expectations were. We did not have the ‘wait until your father got home’ speech. She was more than enough to deal with. Nonetheless, all of us appreciated what she did for our own wellbeing. Her instruction gave us the framework for who we would become as adults.
As Christians, we believe in The Bible, and that seems simple. It is filled with stories, guidance, and sayings that give us a level of ease and guidance from God where we do not have to always figure things out. Yet, some things we must learn the hard way. However, learning everything that way will ultimately lead to an extremely hard life. That is not to say avoid difficult things. What I am simply pointing out is that there are some fundamentals to focus on that make life easier. Much like I always want a recipe to follow or instructions on how to put something together, God gives us guidance as to how to live a fruitful life. But just like the instruction manual of my vehicle, it may take a while for us to figure out.
The fundamentals of God instruction are meant to make our lives easier. As I close out my new favorite book of 1 Corinthians, I look at the final words given by Paul to them. Lots of it is focused on people who he asked them to look out for and honor, but there were clear words of encouragement and instruction outlined in the verses today. Each portion of this reminded me of a much bigger lesson somewhere else in scripture. “Be on guard,” reminds me of the words in 1 Peter 5:8 that say, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” The phrase, “Stand firm in the faith,” is liken to a similar message to the Ephesians when he said, “ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11). “Be courageous. Be strong,” are the words spoken to Joshua from God (This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1:9). And of course, “if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing,” (1 Corinthians 13:3b) which Paul spoke of extensively in 1 Corinthians 13. If we can follow through on these things as Paul instructed the Corinthians, our lives would be centered on God and filled with His peace. I know I tend to overcomplicate this, but if I follow through on these simple instructions, my life becomes better. I suspect many of you might find the same.
The reason God’s message is always well received is because it speaks to the best in each of us. This does not mean it is not without challenges. There are many topics which push us to grow and develop. But as I pointed out previously, our journey of faith is filled with constant growth. The key here is that we walk that path following the words of Paul. Should we be successful, we will be able to say the words of Paul to his apprentice Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me – the crown of righteousness.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8a) Let us all aspire to press toward that crown of righteousness. What do you need to be on guard for today? How can you stand firm in your faith? Where do you need to be more courageous and strengthen either for or by God? Who can you love on today? My prayer is we grow more by simply following the instructions. Amen.