Beautiful Word Devotional #181

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13

Life is not meant to be lived lackadaisically. We are not to be passive Christians, allowing evil to take hold, morals to crumble, and the helpless to suffer as we sink comfortably into our couches. Instead, Paul called believers to be alert, courageous, and strong—words that imply vigilance and action!

But how do we live with alertness? How can we “stand firm in the faith; be courageous; [and] be strong”? The truth is, we can’t. Left to ourselves to live the Christian life, we will only fail.

Thankfully, we are not left to ourselves, and there is hope. When you asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life, he sent the Holy Spirit to live within you. Therein lies our hope: the Spirit empowers us to be “on our guard,” to be brave, and to live courageously. What a gift!

Lord, thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit in my life—and, Spirit, empower me to be a gutsy and active Christian who makes a difference for the Lord in this world! Amen.