Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13

“Be watchful” is a reminder that there is an enemy who means harm and is actively planning his next attack. I’m vulnerable. I need to stay spiritually alert and watch those “attack vectors” carefully, so that my inner alarm goes off as the earliest, low-level temptation begins, before it escalates and overwhelms me.

Stand firm in the faith has two parts: stand firm and in the faith. It doesn’t mean to just be stubborn. It means to stubbornly insist on trusting God and His Word. When everyone tells me that I should give up and abandon hope of God’s intervention it’s time to double down and get really stubborn!

Act like men! As accusations of toxic masculinity are hurled at any man who dares to take responsibility, step up, be the protector and head of his home or take a role of leadership in the community or the church, this has become more important than ever. Get over it, guys; act like men!

Be strong! Carry the burden, don’t wimp out. Stay the course. You are the gate-keeper for your family, your church, and your community. Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

Lord, the very things that make for a stable home, church, and community are under attack as never before. Help me to be the man You need me to be in this time and place, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles