April 10

In I Corinthians 16:13 Paul gives us a word of cautionary advice. He warns us that we must, “Be vigilant and alert and stand firm in your faith; quit you like men and be courageous as you grow in strength.” The implication of these few words is quite profound.

Paul is advising us to be vigilant, to be on guard. That suggests that there is a force, an enemy, that stands against us and that it may encroach upon us. Our vigilance allows us to be aware of its presence and to defend ourselves against it.

To be successful in that regard, we must stand firm in our faith. Some of the things that try us are of overwhelming magnitude. It is the intent of the enemy of our soul to swallow us in defeat. Indeed, he desires not merely our defeat but our total destruction! The evil one desires nothing more than to annihilate people of faith because he knows they are precious to the Lord.

To resist and overcome his insidious devices, it is imperative that we hold fast to our confidence in Jesus, that we rely upon the Holy Spirit within us to guide us through the mine field of trial and temptation that the enemy set up to destroy us! When we have been vigilant and resisted, we will find our faith strong and our courage to be more than sufficient for us to overcome.