Parting Words

Scripture: 

1 Corinthians 16: 13-14. Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. 

SERMON REFLECTION:

These words at the end of the 1 Corinthians are inspiring and applicable. They begin the summary of the book, serving as a transition. They summarize the fifteen chapters that precede them, the take away. They are his parting words, meant to reiterate what he has just written to this church he loves.

            First - Be on guard. A reference to his true life experience in Corinth. The imagery here is of a military guard keeping watch. Some translations say, "Keep alert", but it's important here to keep the image of a guard. Paul is urging the believers to be aware of what is happening around them, but even more, to be "on guard." While there are multiple meanings here, including to be aware of eschatological hope, that Jesus is returning, and could be returning any moment. This has to do with the situation in Corinth with politics and power, and Paul has experienced that first hand. In Acts 18:12-17, Paul was hauled before the Roman proconsul, or governor for the area, Gallio. He was charged and accused by the Jews for "encouraging people to worship God in ways contrary to the law." But Gallio dismissed the matter without even giving the matter a hearing, saying, "Settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things."

            Be on guard...be aware of what's happening in the world around you, waiting for Jesus' return, and knowing that this world will not offer you protection.

            Second - stand firm in the faith. Paul here brings up the themes of chapters 10 and 15, and what it is we believe in. Chapter 15, in particular gives us, again, amazing imagery of being changed from glory into glory, that moment when Jesus does return, and will "judge the living and the dead." Paul here reminds the believers that their only defense on Judgment day is the salvation of God in Jesus Christ. "Remember what you believe!" he tells them. Stand firm in the faith.

            Paul then takes a little break to fall into the language of Psalm 31:24, a sort of benediction that has been used throughout centuries, "Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord."

            Finally, Paul sums up what we know and love and remember about this letter, the turning point of Chapter 13, "Let all that you do be done in love." These words pick up the theme once again of what unites the Christian community - love. And the challenge of the community, the challenge of being a Christian in this world, the challenge of sending love into a world that so desperately needs it, it that it must translate into our ethics. God's love is so great that it needs to be shared, whether the recipient wants it or not. We are called to love others as God has loved us. And it's hard...but without love, we are a noisy gong, or a clanging cymbal. "Let all that you do be done in love."

            Parting words. "Be on guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." Wisdom that will get you through the unknown joys of a final year of high school, the first day of a new school, taking your child to college for the first time, the first day of marriage, the first day of being a parent, starting a new job, moving across the country, retiring, or buying a new house. Wisdom that will get you through the challenges of deciding what to do after high school, making new friends, being an empty nester, the first disagreement in a marriage, the terrible twos and troublesome threes, the annoying co-worker, learning a new city, filling your days, and selling the home you love. These are parting words that will always be relevant to our lives, no matter who we are, where we are, what's happening in our lives.

            These are parting words.

 Amen.

Rev. Melodie Jones-Pointon