1 Corinthians 16:19-24

                                                                     1 Corinthians 16:19-24

The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord.  All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.  I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand.  If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.  My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Love is the hallmark of Christ in the lives of believers.  We are called to love one another and to love God.  This love is to be expressed and demonstrated in every aspect of our lives.  Paul has said some difficult things in this book.  He has called the church to repent of sin, but these messages all come from a deep and abiding love that Paul has for this church and the believers in the church.  We would do well to emulate this example.

 

WARM GREETINGS IN LOVE:  As believers we should love and greet one another in a way that demonstrates that love.  The churches in Asia are concerned about and loving the church in Macedonia and vice versa.  Aquila and Priscila had been in Corinth on Paul’s first visit but ended up traveling with to Ephesus where they were instrumental in starting the church and reaching Apollos.  Paul’s ministry team sends greetings and Paul instructs them to be loving in the way they greet one another.  Loving our brothers and sisters in Christ is a blessing and an important part of our testimony as believers.  

 

WARN ABOUT LACK OF LOVE: Paul warns that those who do not love the Lord they are to be accursed. This seems to be an indication that Paul is teaching that those who fail to love one another are, in reality, failing to love the Lord.  We cannot say we love the Lord if we do not love one another.  It is a shame to the name and cause of Christ when believers fail to love, serve and greet one another.  As members of the body of Christ we are to love the people with whom we congregate as well as our brothers and sisters in other congregations.

 

WISH FOR GRACE AND LOVE: Paul expresses his desire for the church that them might experience the grace and love of the Lord Jesus in their lives.  This should be a constant desire that we express in our relationships with one another.  The grace of God is the only means by which we can experience the Love of God.  Just as we depend on these blessings, all members of the body of Christ require them as well.

 

APPLICATION: Be a part of the global church that cares for and sends greetings to the church around the world.  Be active and intentional about loving and greeting the people in our own local church.  Desire the grace and love of God for our own lives as well as the lives of others.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than a...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:3-7

I thank God   whom I serve, as did my ancestors,   with a clear conscience, as I remember you   constantly in my prayers night and day.    As I remember your tears,   I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.    I am reminded of   your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and   your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.    For this reason I remind you   to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us   a spirit not of fear but   of power and love and self-control. It is easy for us to forget many important things especially in the face of difficulty or danger.  Paul is in prison and Timothy is facing difficult times in ministry so there are important reminders that Paul wants to make sure that Timothy understands.  God has given us everything we need to face the difficulties He allows i...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:8-14

Therefore   do not be ashamed of   the testimony about our Lord, nor of   me his prisoner, but   share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,   who saved us and   called us to a holy calling,   not because of our works but because of   his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus   before the ages began, and which now has   been manifested through   the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus,   who abolished death and   brought life and   immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But   I am not ashamed, for   I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until   that day   what has been entrusted to me.  Follow   the pattern of   the sound words   that you have heard from me, in   the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ...
Read more