1 Corinthians 16:13

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

Watch: give strict attention to, so some destruction doesn’t     overtake you.

Stand fast: keep one’s standing and do not surrender ground.

Be brave: show oneself a man

Be strong: increase in strength.

On this observance of our Veteran’s Day weekend this Scripture seems fitting to describe the quality and nature of a good soldier. It certainly describes the quality and nature of a good Christian.

This was a vital exhortation in the first century church and its voice perhaps needs to be heard even louder today.

We have become careless in our understanding of God and the Word He has given us, instead fitting ourselves with that which suits and pleases us. The only outcome can only be destruction.

We are all too willing to surrender ground in our lives, weakening our faith in God, and wonder why our churches are slipping away. Churches are not buildings or organizations, but people. The more faith-filled the people, the more faith-filled the church.

At some point in our history being a man was about listing the qualities that made him honorable; qualities that no doubt espoused those found in Jesus. Today we must first define what a man is before we can even begin describe a good man. Because we did not watch. Because we surrendered ground.

All these eventually will lead to a weakness that makes one easy to overcome.

But rather than surrender and become a prisoner of war, our Lord gives us opportunity to repent. To watch, to gain ground, to be men and women of faith, going from strength to strength.