Let’s get back to Corinthians! I love this little paragraph in the last chapter of 1 Corinthians:

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16.13, 14, ESV)

Let’s bullet it out and note the contrast:

• Be watchful,
• stand firm in the faith,
• act like men,
• be strong.
• Let all that you do be done in love.

I say contrast because the first four are “manly” commands. They sound like an appeal to an army…or a football team! But wait…Do all that in love! Say what?

There’s a battle, and battles require fighting, but we do it in love.

I sent The Message version to our pastor as he was off to a General Conference of the United Methodist Church about 20 years ago (the battles are ongoing). It’s still a good word:

Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping. (1 Corinthians 16.13, 14, MSG)