Hello, my ‘Walking with Jesus” friends on this Thursday,
Do you have some people in your life whom you rarely see, but when you do connect your spirit is greatly refreshed? What would it be like for us and others if you and I determined to be people like that… people who refresh others, people who simply are a blessing to everyone who has contact with us!?
In our journey together over the past few weeks, through Paul’s first letter to the Christians in crazy Corinth, in the mid first century, we’ve come to his closing words of encouragement and challenge. As we read through 1 Corinthians 16:10-20 we find several names of people who apparently were what I might call ‘ambassadors of encouragement’! Do you see them?
I see Timothy in vs. 10 and Apollos in vs. 12 and the household of Stephanas in vs. 15 and Aquila and Priscilla in vs. 19. Of course, these Christians in Corinth knew Timothy as one of Paul’s closest friends who had been with him for several years since joining Paul on his second journey in Lystra. (Acts 16:1) Apollos had first come to Ephesus from Alexandria and there he had been taught the truths of Jesus by Aquila and Priscilla. (Acts 18:24-19:1) Apollos had then gone on to Corinth where he had powerfully preached the Gospel of Jesus effectively. Finally, Aquila and Priscilla had first met Paul in Corinth where Paul had taught them while they made tents together. (Acts 18:1-4)
Then in 1 Cor. 16:17 I read these words from Paul, and I wonder if they’ve ever been said about you or me: “I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied me what was lacking from you. For they refreshed my spirit…” (1 Cor. 16:17) What do you suppose those three men did to cause Paul’s spirit to be refreshed? Please remember we saw yesterday that Paul wrote in vs. 9 that “there are many who oppose me.” Do you feel some opposition as you ‘walk with Jesus’ my friends, and does that opposition wear you down? Who are the ‘ambassadors of encouragement’ whom Jesus has brought into your life to ‘refresh your spirit’?
Interestingly, it was about 5 years later that Paul wrote his Pastoral letter to the Christians in Ephesus, and specifically this verse which I believe are marching orders for “ambassadors of encouragement”: “Let not any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Eph. 4:29) That is, I believe, what these special people did in Paul’s life as he battled the discouragement of those who opposed him.
Finally, I see one powerful, closing challenge from Paul’s pen in the last few verses of this last chapter of his first letter to his friends in crazy Corinth: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” (1 Cor. 16:13,14) Let’s take that one phrase at a time…
“Be on your guard”… Do you remember King Solomon wrote: “Above all else GUARD YOUR HEART for from it flows everything in your life.” So how do you guard your heart from anything and everything that could wound or divide or even callose you to having a hard heart toward the Spirit of God?
Paul wrote: “stand firm in the faith”… Oh this is a frequent challenge which Paul repeats often in his letters, perhaps because it was something he worked at every day as he faced opposition frequently. Do you remember the prophet Isaiah wrote this message from God: “If you do not stand firm in your faith you will not stand at all.” (Is. 7:9) So HOW do you make this a daily priority my friends, no matter where you live in the world?
Next Paul wrote: “be courageous; be strong.” I wonder if those words remind you of what God said to Joshua as he received the mantle of leadership from Moses? God said: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan river into the land I am about to give them…Be strong and very courageous…Keep the Book of the Law always on your lips, meditate on it day and night…do not be discouraged for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:1-9)
Finally, Paul wrote: “Do everything in love.” Of course, I think Paul may have been reflecting on the powerful 13th chapter of this letter to the Corinthians where Paul described the Jesus style love they should live every day, remember? But I also wonder if Paul had heard from John what Jesus had said to those in the upper room with Him that evening before the cross: “A new command I give you, love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know you are My disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34,35)
And with a last few strokes of his pen Paul closed this very powerful letter: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.” (1 Cor. 16:23,24) I wonder if Paul then paused and prayed for these dear Christians in Corinth who would soon receive this scroll letter from him.
Oh, how Paul longed for them to live Jesus honoring, vibrant, strong lives that would draw other Corinthians to Jesus. And that’s my prayer for all of you, my ‘Walking with Jesus” friends, that our lives would vibrantly, joyfully be ‘ambassadors of encouragement’ which draw others to Jesus!
The ‘lessons learned’ notes below will help close our study of 1 Corinthians and I’ve chosen a special anthem to close this great study. And as always, I’ll meet you here tomorrow, my friends.
Today’s Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:10-24.
Choose below to read or listen.
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Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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