Daily Bible Reading - August 1, 2017

Today's Reading:

1 Corinthians 16

2 Kings 12-13

Micah 3

Listen to the Bible

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thoughts and Commentary on Today's Reading   

In 1 Corinthians 16, there is a spiritual warfare injunction that we all need to bear in mind:

1 Corinthians 16:13 "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."

The verse begins with the command to "watch" and "stand fast in the faith". Here Paul is underscoring the concept of Peter:

1 Peter 5:8-9  "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  Whom resist stedfast in the faith..."

1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has come your way that is too hard for flesh and blood to bear. But God can be trusted not to allow you to suffer any temptation beyond your powers of endurance. He will see to it that every temptation has its way out, so that it will be possible for you to bear it. (I Corinthians 10:13; J.B. Phillips' translation)

God is faithful. God will do His part, but what about us? What is our part? In spiritual warfare and victorious Christian living, God doesn't just drag us into victory while we rest back in our recliner chairs while sipping lemonade. We have a part to play in the conflict between Good and evil. We are active participants, in fact.

In today's reading, Paul instructs us: "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity" (I Corinthians 16:13-14; King James Version). Several generations ago, "quit you like men" was a frequently heard phrase in English-speaking countries. To modern ears, quit means "to stop" or "to give up," but it can also mean "to conduct oneself in a specified way."

The phrase the King James Version translates as "quit you like men," James Moffatt renders as "play the man"; the Revised Standard Version, "be courageous"; and The Amplified Bible, "act like men." Phillips, however, separates verses 13-14 into a paragraph of their own, giving it a sub-heading that says, "A little sermon in a nutshell!" He translates the verse as follows: "Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, live like men, be strong! Let everything that you do be done in love."

In the blog from June 29, I explained this concept of what it means to "act like a man", illustrating it with David's mighty men of valor. I encourage you to revisit this blog to gain a better look at what it means to "act like a man" in the cause of Messiah.