"Watch and stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."
- 1 Corinthians
A fourfold challenge rings out in this text. This challenge is addressed to each one of us.
Watch you, every soldier knows what it means to stand guard and how
much depends on the alertness of the guard. The Christian life is a
continuous warfare against the devil, the world, and the flesh. In this
spiritual warfare a constant watchfulness is called for. "Watch and
pray" is our Savior's admonition and plea to each disciple. "Watch and
pray, that you enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing,
but the flesh is weak."
Stand fast in the faith! In battle every man in line must stand his
ground, else the . . .
"Watch and stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."
- 1 Corinthians
A fourfold challenge rings out in this text. This challenge is addressed to each one of us.
Watch you, every soldier knows what it means to stand guard and how much depends on the alertness of the guard. The Christian life is a continuous warfare against the devil, the world, and the flesh. In this spiritual warfare a constant watchfulness is called for. "Watch and pray" is our Savior's admonition and plea to each disciple. "Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Stand fast in the faith! In battle every man in line must stand his ground, else the whole line will soon yield. In the Christian warfare every believer must stand fast in the faith, for the sake of his own soul and for the sake of others. We must encourage, and help one another to stand.
Quit you like men! Adult Christians are not to be children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine. God requires us to be established and to give a good account of ourselves.
Be strong! With might of ours can naught be done. All our strength comes from God. He imparts it by His Spirit through Word and Sacrament.
Christian friends, as we prayerfully use these we shall be putting on the armor of God and be able to stand in the evil days ahead.
Be strong
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
We have hard work to do, and loads to lift.
Shun not the struggle; fact it.
'Tis God's gift.
Be strong!
Say not the days are evil- Who's to blame?
And fold the hands and acquiesce-O shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely,
In God's name.
Be strong!
It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,
How hard the battle goes, the day how long,
Faint not, fight on!
Tomorrow comes the song.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - Greatness comes not by having a mossy path made for you through the meadow, but by being sent to hew out a roadway by your own hands.