Summary:
Paul exhorts the believers to stay alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, and be strong. Above all, he commands that everything they do be done in love.
Teaching:
To be “alert” means to live with awareness - specifically, spiritual awareness. It is not living driven by worldly desires and cravings, but living with a clear and disciplined mind, walking by faith.
Now is the time for us to practice relying on God alone. In matters of daily life, livelihood, and even survival, we must train ourselves to depend solely on Him. In today’s world, it is difficult to live as if we were in the wilderness, but we must steady our hearts. Even when we live in abundance, our hearts must remain firmly grounded in faith - trained to stand strong and live courageously, relying on God.
Do not treat time lightly. Spend each moment as time filled with your life. Whatever you do, let every moment become living, meaningful time.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son - Jesus is love. He shed His blood for us and purchased us with His blood to make us a kingdom and priests for God. When we discover and learn this love from God, we gain the kind of faith that enables us to act in love.
Excerpt from the sermon by Pastor Lee, Dec 3, 2025
1 Corinthian 16:13-14