BE MANLY

 

Saturday, January 7, 2023

 

BE MANLY

 

1 Cor 16:12-14

12 As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.

13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

14 Let all your things be done with charity.

 

          Apollos was the focus of a faction within the church at Corinth. We see it in 1 Cor 1:11-12 “For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.”

 

          History affords us little information about Apollos except that he was a great speaker. Paul had invited him to travel with him from Ephesus to Corinth, but Apollos declined most likely to avoid giving the faction strength or verification. There are times to join a thing and times to withdraw.

 

          Watch was Paul’s firm warning. Be on guard against evil. Be aware of the needs of one another with the intention of providing relief. Guard your own firm convictions lest anyone weaken them. Do everything lovingly.

 

          Quit didn’t mean quit in those days. It meant the opposite. It meant to conscientiously conduct yourself in a serious and manly way. Your life belongs to God and your walk and work have eternal consequences. Adam Clarke puts it this way: “When you are attacked, do not flinch; maintain your ground; resist; press forward; strike home; keep compact; conquer.”

 

Dear Lord, do not allow the difficulty of the task determine the strength of my resolve. AMEN