Just a Reminder

"Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you - unless you believed in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:1-2

Why did the Corinthians need to be reminded of the gospel that Paul preached to them? We're talking about The Apostle Paul here! He preached to them the good news of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Were they not fully convinced? How much time had past, I wonder, between the time he first preached to them, and the writing of this letter? In some ways, though, the length of time doesn't matter; even if it were only a matter of days, I would be equally as guilty as the Corinthians. It amazes me how quickly I forget God's grace and salvation.

I'm not alone in my roller-coaster-like faith...

Even a man as close to God as King David had his ups and downs. In Psalm 21, David writes: "O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults! You have given him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips." Then, one chapter later, in Psalm 22, he writes: "My God, my God why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?"

Fear, doubt and despondency...

These are not to be taken lightly. Satan wants us to be consumed with ourselves, with our feelings and emotions. I'm not saying it is a sin to feel pain or sorrow, but we cannot allow those feelings to lead to despair and disbelief. We have to keep going!

Ephesians 6:10-13 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore...(check out the armor of God!) 

...and read Hebrews 12

We are not expected to go alone...

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

2 Corinthians 4:7-12 "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you."

John 14:16-17 "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."

John 16:32-33 "Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."