Part of Paul’s final instructions in his first letter to the Corinthian church contains a short list of commands.
“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.” [1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NLT]
As Christians in our modern world, we would do well to also heed those commands. We need to always be “on guard,” we need to “stand firm in our faith,“ and we need to be “courageous” and “strong.”
If we fail to heed those four instructions, we will struggle. But … if we do those things apart from that fifth and last command (“do everything with love”), we will damage our testimony.
Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” [John 13:35 NLT]
The one thing that should firmly set us apart should be our love. It should speak the loudest and remain constant and unconditional. Only then will it influence everything we do and everyone we meet the way God intended.
Oh LORD, our Savior, help us to abide in Your love and to let Your love abide in us! May we “prove to the world” that we are Yours. Amen