January 6th

All Aboard

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

What do you do on Mondays?

Church is done. Your religious duty of time with believers-half of whom you think are nuts-and of giving money into the offering are done. Now the rest of your week is before you. What do you do?

I know you know the right answer, but I’m interested in the true answer. Do you forget God during the week? Do you live a double-life? Can your family recognize God in your life when you aren’t dressed up for church?

You see, anyone can behave themselves for two hours on a Sunday. The real test comes when real life hits.

It is for this reason that Paul wrote our verses for today, inspired by the Holy Spirit who saw us and our struggles all the way back when He gave these words to Paul’s pen. And you know what, the faith and the love in our verses today are inseparably connected, and they need to be connected in our lives as well.

First, we need to stand fast in our faith. That means that our faith does not end when we drive out of the church parking lot. Our faith exists beyond Sunday morning into Monday morning when we go serve our employers at work and when we come home from a long Monday at work to our family who needs our attention, affection, and love. God stays present in our lives in all of these things.

Well, what about me? you say. Just wait, we’ll get to that.

We keep God present in our lives by living with love. Everything we do, we do it because of, and out of, and with, and through love. Our motivation is love. Our desire is love. And the biggest sign of this is that we do not live selfishly, but rather we live with others in mind first, seeking the benefit of others before insisting on our own desires.

It is this kind of love that requires faith-faith that someone else is going to take care of us when we make our life about loving others first. That is why we need to be strong and brave, because it can be scary living with others in mind first, trusting God to meet our needs, to be our provider.

Yet that is the life to which we are called. Will you choose to live that life today?

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Thank You for loving me! You are the perfect example of someone who loved others even when it cost You everything. Please help me to be strong and full of faith that You will take care of me as I choose to love the people around me!

Amen