13 Stay awake, stand firm in your faith, be brave, be strong.
Reflection
When we think about the characteristics of a person who stands firm in their faith, someone
who is brave and strong; loving might not be the first thing that comes to our mind. We might
believe that to be firm, brave, and strong, we need to be forceful with our beliefs and values.
We need to let people who think or are different from us know that they are wrong and tell
them that they must change. If they change and agree with us, then we can love them. The
problem with this is that it just leads to greater division and conflict. And we must ask
ourselves; are we really standing firm in our faith, if we are just pushing people away who might challenge us?
As the Apostle Paul ends his first letter to the Corinthians, I think he is saying that to be firm,
brave, and strong, we need to be loving and gracious. As Pastor Joe touched on in his message this past Sunday, leading first with love and extending grace to someone who has angered us, or thinks differently than us, is challenging and takes courage. However, when we are courageous in doing this, we help refill the “reservoir of grace” the world so desperately needs to pull from.
So, whatever you face or do today, stand firm, be brave, be strong, and do it all in love.
by Manny Estevez
For Pondering and Prayer
Are there people I have pushed away because they think or are different than I am? Is there a
way that I can take that let love lead me, take a step of courage, and extend them grace?
Prayer: Loving and gracious God, give us the strength we need today to stay awake, to stand firm in our faith, and to be brave and strong. And give us the courage we need to do everything in love. In the holy, loving, and courageous name of Jesus we pray. Amen.