Tag Archives: vigilance

September 8
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“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13, NIV)

In 17 words, Paul provides the Christian disciple with a challenge for every day, and a charge for each life.  From the end of this short verse to its beginning — phrase by phrase — let us look at what Paul has said.

“Do everything in love”: Treat others as you would have others treat you. Live to please our heavenly Father. 

“Be strong”: If the Holy Spirit of God is your strength, you are strong indeed. His strength never flags. His power never fails. Rely on this strength.

“Be courageous”: Going against “conventional wisdom” with God’s wisdom; swimming upstream; standing alone in one’s convictions; or choosing the “narrow gate” requires moral, physical, and spiritual courage. Choose it — then be it!

“Stand firm in the faith”: Conventional wisdom, enlightened self-interest, and fashion are “currents and tides.” Faith is the disciple’s anchor, and the word of God is the anchor’s chain. 

“Be on your guard”: Thieves do not steal things that have no value. Because you are a person of inestimable worth and value, there is a bounty on your life. Therefore, guard your heart, your thoughts, your motives, and your affections against theft and/or misuse by unworthy agents.  – Luther 

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April 4
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Uncategorized Aside

“In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab.” (Ruth 1:1, NIV)

The great works of God — whether in us, with us, or through us — begin in the most humble and common of circumstances. 

The story of Ruth and Naomi and their persistent faith, loyalty, and humility began with the compelling — but utterly common — circumstance of famine, and a humble family’s sojourn to a foreign land for the purpose of surviving the famine. 

Be utterly faithful to Him in even the most boring of times; and look for Him in the commonplace. We often miss experiencing God because He appears to us in rags when we expect Him only in robes.  Whether in rags or in robes, God is God.  Be vigilant in all circumstances!  – Luther

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December 17
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Uncategorized Aside

“The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.” (1 Peter 4:7, NIV)

The end of all things is near, and the evidence is clear: Senseless violence, strife between brothers, the suspension of standards, the erosion of values, the loss of faith. It is about these things — and more — for which the disciple of Jesus prays.

Praying effectively requires alertness and sobriety of mind. The former means that we pay close attention to the things and the people around us; the latter means that we maintain a clear mind at all times.

Just because we do not know the hour or the day of the “end of all things,” does not mean that the end shall never come. We wait, as the rest of the world waits; but the faithful disciple of Jesus both waits and prays.  – Luther

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