1 Corinthians 16:13 AMPC
[13] Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your faith (your conviction respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part of it). Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength!
Psalm 31:24 AMPC
[24] Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord!
The two verses above are linked by a few themes, but the focus today is on the command to stand firm and strong, as we wait for the Lord to show up for us. In the letter of Paul to the church in Corinth, he was speaking to fellow brethren, who shared the same faith as he, and were going through tough times, as he was too. In the verse taken from the song of David in Psalm, we also see a man who had made it a habit to trust in God at all times for everything. It is not a surprise therefore that God had great use for both men in their own generation. David was called a man after God's own heart by God Himself, while Paul was inspired to write or co-write quite a lot of the letters that make up the new testament. What these points tell me is that the benefits and blessings that God promises have conditions, as listed in the verses above.
God is seeking men in whose lives He can display His power, might, grace and mercy. The paths He will take all of us will differ from person to person, but that is why it is first and foremost a personal walk, not a public call. We do not need to solely seek the validation of men to confirm God's call upon our lives, even if He may inspire men to speak into our lives, but the final confirmation must come from Him. This bit is critical because of the days of storms that will definitely come. As you read both verses above, it is clear that the benefits God promises are for people who will stand to the end. Paul's letter encourages us to be alert and be on our guard, as well as standing firm in our faith. He charges us to be courageous and grow in strength. You do not speak like this to people who are at ease and have nothing to look forward to. You do not speak like these to people who have nothing to hope for or whose vision do not go beyond the earthly and the immediate.
David's song also speaks to people who have come to know and understand the value of waiting on, hoping for and expecting the Lord. You do not sit and fold your arms, waiting for things to just work out automatically; you work at it. People who wait on the Lord are not in a hurry, or seeking to do things on their own time. You are waiting for directives and instructions from the person you are waiting on; you know He is good for whatever it is He has promised you, and you know He will show up for maximum impact, at the time that best suits His purpose for you. One thing that is clear from the 2 verses above is that God moves across different generations and dispensations. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He seeks to show Himself strong in the lives of all who come to Him, but He will not force Himself on anyone. Will you trust Him with your life? God's time of favour is here.
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