Hello,

Lately I?ve been reading First and Second Corinthians and noting in my journal passages that especially catch my attention. Here?s one: Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love (I Cor.16:13-14). Those are two cram-packed sentences right there. So much is said so briefly that we?re prone to miss all of it. So I thought we?d take a few minutes and walk through this compound command phrase by phrase.

Be on the alert. There is so much said in Paul?s writings toward being vigilant, on the alert. Apparently, there?s a lot one can miss if he doesn?t pray and walk circumspectly (literally around-looking) ? that is, do his praying and his living while actively looking around, paying careful attention to all the data. He can miss opportunities to serve or be kind or teach or rebuke be generally useful. He can miss the subtle, scattering activity of the Enemy. He can be blindsided by temptations or by inaccurate teaching. Or inaccurate living. Without vigilance, he will certainly live an unexamined life with unchallenged assumptions and therefore unchanged presuppositions (those things you believe and don?t know it). Buried shame and doubt and fear and pride will remain buried ? you can?t see it but it can sure drive you. If you?re going to thrive in Christ you have got to pay constant attention. This is not a game, nor is it a dry run. Every moment is the real deal and how you live that moment is what you are doing with your life. To be caught sleeping can mean catastrophe, and certainly means problems.

Stand firm in the faith. “The faith” doesn?t just refer to our system of beliefs, and it certainly does not refer to “Christian dogma” or religious behaviors or rituals. Rather, when someone genuinely believes God, takes Him at His word, that faith determines how that person does life. What you live is what you believe. The rest is just religious talk. When you take our believing and its consequent way of life, that?s “the faith.”

So, when we “stand firm in the faith” we are simply holding fast to the truth in our thinking and in our living; we are unswervingly applying ourselves actively to the Way of Jesus. That actively is important, as standing firm is not the same as standing still.

Act like men. This year I taught my high school Bible class about authentic manhood and womanhood. Here?s our definition of a man: A man rejects passivity, embraces responsibility, leads courageously, loves sacrificially and lives for a Higher Reason. In our case, guys, our Higher Reason is the Church, the body and beloved of Christ our King. It?s Fathers? Day. Being a good father is simply the result of being a good man. So act like one, whether you feel like one or not.

Be strong. I love this. Paul doesn?t say, “Feel strong.” Feel however you feel. Whatever. Just be strong.

This isn?t about psyching yourself up for the big lift. It?s not convincing yourself you feel strong. It?s about: 1) remembering Jesus is strong, 2) believing He really is inside you right now, and 3) making His strength your strength by consciously drawing on Him. A saint?s strength flows from the living Christ within. You may not be strong (condition), but you can be strong (action) by an act of believing choice.

So don?t focus on how you feel. Just be strong.

Let all you do be done in love. Love There?s one of our watchwords. I have always enjoyed those passages that tell us to “abound in love” or to “love one another.” There is a quiet, undeniable, swelling power in them. But, for me, such statements have always lacked handles. What, exactly, do they mean? I am told to love, and I really want to, but how?

If we recall that love is a choice, and act of will and not of the emotions, to take appropriate responsibility for the well-being of another, then we?ll find Paul?s command here gives us handles on the concept of loving. There is no mention of feeling here. There is only choice (”let”) followed by the consequent action (”do” / “done”). That?s very freeing for a guy prone to counterproductive feelings. Another way to put this command might go like this: In every single thing you do, consider the best interests of the other and act decisively that way.

I have been much helped by this command this week. Hurtling through a given day, blurred with all the other days by the sheer pace of my week, I have found myself aggravated. Aggravated by the demands and expectations of others from every quarter. In these moments, I remember this verse, take a breath and tell myself that I need not worry about convenience or my felt needs or the selfish nature of the other?s request. Rather, I am free to consider one thing ? the other?s well-being ? and act accordingly. This reduces the number of clamoring voices in my head to just one ? that of the Spirit ? and I find my aggravation (which was largely the fruit of my own selfishness) quickly dissipating. The dissipation of my aggravation is not the point, but it is a nice perk.

Anyhow, I just thought I?d share my meditations with you, since you?re family and all. I hope it proves useful. If nothing else, memorize the passage, write it on a card or something, and whisper it to yourself over the next few days. Scripture nourishes us, so we can do the Will, and it guides us, so we know how.

So wake up, hold to the Way, be men, choose strength. Consciously seek the good of the other and act decisively for it. Leave your well-being to Someone Else.

Looking out for you,

Virgil