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Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV
The Greek word andrizomai is used only once in the New Testament. In 1 Corinthians 16:13, it is translated as the imperative statement, “Act like men.”
There are a lot of stereotypes associated with men, but the apostle Paul wasn’t encouraging the believers of Corinth to act macho, cheer on their favorite sports team, or belch loudly. The word andrizomai is something a commanding officer might say to his soldiers. Be courageous!
The interesting thing about Paul’s command is that he follows it up with a reminder to act in love. This is a profound juxtaposition. Prepare for war, but arm yourself with love.
Paul knows that a believer’s life is a battleground. We must watch out for invisible enemies. We must stand firm in our Savior’s grace. We must be strong against temptations. We must act like men, courageously loving others when it feels more natural to fight.
In the battles you face today, arm yourself with the Savior’s love, and you will show the world what it really means to act like men.
Prayer: Father God, You are the commander of heaven’s armies, and You know about the battles I face every day. Give me the strength to do more than fight my enemies. Give me the strength to love them.
The Greek word andrizomai is used only once in the New Testament. In 1 Corinthians 16:13, it is translated as the imperative statement, “Act like men.”
There are a lot of stereotypes associated with men, but the apostle Paul wasn’t encouraging the believers of Corinth to act macho, cheer on their favorite sports team, or belch loudly. The word andrizomai is something a commanding officer might say to his soldiers. Be courageous!
The interesting thing about Paul’s command is that he follows it up with a reminder to act in love. This is a profound juxtaposition. Prepare for war, but arm yourself with love.
Paul knows that a believer’s life is a battleground. We must watch out for invisible enemies. We must stand firm in our Savior’s grace. We must be strong against temptations. We must act like men, courageously loving others when it feels more natural to fight.
In the battles you face today, arm yourself with the Savior’s love, and you will show the world what it really means to act like men.
Prayer: Father God, You are the commander of heaven’s armies, and You know about the battles I face every day. Give me the strength to do more than fight my enemies. Give me the strength to love them.
