July 18, 2023 | Be On Mission
You Are Not Alone
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16(NIV)
1 Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.
5 After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
10 When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. 11 No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.
12 Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.
15 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, 16 to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. 17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.
19 The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. 20 All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.
22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed! Come, Lord!
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Devotional
Paul concluded this long letter to the Corinthian Christians with a walk down memory lane. After reminding them of the importance of giving their offerings, he told them how much he missed them, and how he hoped to come and stay with them in the near future. This had to give them great comfort. It also might have given them pause to consider how they should clean up their act before he arrived. After all, he had spent the previous fifteen chapters correcting them on false teachings, sexual immorality, improper worship practices, and more. He challenged them: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love” (v. 13-14).
He was reminding the Christians in Corinth that they were not alone. Though they were separated from Paul in Ephesus by 250 miles by sea and 1000 miles by road, they knew that they didn’t have to go it alone. Paul’s letter reminded them that he was still thinking about them and praying for them. He opened the letter by saying, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” and closed it with, “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.” Paul might be far away, but they were always in the presence of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Beyond that, Paul was sending them Timothy, his young protégé to minister to them, “carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am.” He also said that Apollos would go to them “when he has the opportunity.” He mentioned three other people that the Corinthian Christians had sent to Paul in Ephesus, something that would make them feel even more connected to him. Finally, he mentioned Aquila and Priscilla, believers from Rome that Paul met when he first arrived in Corinth. They were now with him in Ephesus. Christianity was already becoming a global movement. Nobody was alone.
How do you see your faith as part of the bigger picture? Why is your involvement in your local church vital to your growth as a believer? In what ways is being part of Christianity around the world an important part of your life in Christ? What does it mean to you that we are all united through Jesus Christ, who is at God’s right hand in heaven interceding for us?
Poem
Offering
I now present myself to You
An offering in gladness
To go where You deem
To say what You will
To work where You open the door
I now present myself to You
An offering in gladness
Despite my own plans
Despite any foes
Despite how many despise me
I now present myself to You
An offering in gladness
Help me to be watchful
Help me to stand firm
Help me Your strength embody
I now present myself to You
An offering in gladness
