2022_06_22 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- 1 Corinthians 15-16
As Paul ends his letter to the church at Corinth, he challenges them to be the people of God that they can, and need, to be. We need to accept this same challenge today as Jesus’ church in our American culture.
“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13–14 (NASB)
We need to be alert and aware of what is going on around us. It is too easy to merely go along with our comfortable crowd or be asleep at the wheel. When we are alert, we will recognize areas where we need to stand firm in our faith in Jesus. There are times when taking a firm stand on what is true (from God’s perspective) will cost us. This can include moral and ethical issues, where our taking a God-honoring stand could cost us friends, money, or family. We should not be looking to cause conflicts, nor should we be looking to avoid necessary ones. This is where being mature in the faith shows through. The idea is to act like grown-ups and not children. When we rise to the challenge, it will take God’s strength to endure. There are times when we act on our own initiative and strength, and we fail. Paul warned about this earlier to the Corinthians, “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12 (NLT) When we get self-righteous and pursue our own agendas this is what can happen, but when we are genuinely and humbly serving God, we will have His power flowing through us: “We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.” Colossians 1:11 (NLT)
The evidence that we are truly following God, being guided by the truth and empowered by His strength is, that all we do is done in love. This is where I see great weakness in the church today. All too often, we model our attitude toward others after our culture and not by Christ. We are called to love each other as well as the world around us – even our enemies. Jesus tells us, “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” Luke 6:27–28 (NLT)
We are being watched by Heaven and the world. We need to see our calling as honoring God in all we do and to live so a watching world will get an accurate and compelling picture of God – His love, forgiveness, and purpose. This is not a time to be a weenie.
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor