0612 FINAL WATCHWORDS

FINAL WATCH WORDS

You are familiar with watchwords from about two weeks ago, when Paul was wrapping up 1 Corinthians. Here, once again, he drops a series of short phrases, each designed to equip and motivate the true followers of Jesus to live as Christ would have them. Ready? Here we go:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! 

Wrapping up everything, let me say it before something else comes in to crowd it out. What I have to say is one word. .   The word is REJOICE! Especially after Paul’s words about a thorn in the flesh, being a messenger from Satan, we want to know that something in our lives overrides the challenges and sorrows of our lives. That something just might be to consciously choose joy as our first attribute.

Strive for full restoration, 

Whether it is a member who had been outcast and was now back, or you are sharing the gospel with someone who has never heard it, the word is RESTORATION. I like that word because the company I named and now work for uses the word in its name: Third Generation Restoration. Something used to be great, then I was broken or worn down and it needs to be restored again. That’s us. Work toward making people, helping to resolve arguments, and in other ways bring about restored families, friendships and lives.

encourage one another, 

We don’t need to be scolded when we come to church (most weeks!). We do need to be encouraged. We need to know that we are loved. We need to catch each other doing good things and point it out when we see it. We need our insights to be affirmed (most of the time!) and our gifts recognized and our service needs to be thanked. I once heard that we need a 7:1 ratio of encouragement to correction, in order for that correction to be heard well. Otherwise, it becomes oppressive.

be of one mind, 

In the things that truly matter, let there be no divisions among us. Remember how Paul had started 1 Corinthians with the admonition, “I hear there are divisions among you.” Unity is still a big theme for the church today. Not uniformity, but unity.

live in peace. 

Again, remember that a lawsuit among members was addressed in his first letter. So this little reminder is like a mom reminding her child to “wear your gloves!” Or “don’t forget to …!” In this case, it is that we are to let certain non-essential things go. For the sake of peace. Why not rather be wronged, than to make something a big deal?

And the God of love and peace will be with you. 

Yes, he will. He is the creator of love and peace. He is the lord of love and peace. He is the owner of love and peace. So Paul does the best job that our language will allow and he provides a third person imperative, telling the God of love and peace to be with us. Consider it done. Do we see him?

Greet one another with a holy kiss. 

This seems out of the American culture enough that it’s hard to apply it. Perhaps we can replace the words “holy kiss” with “hearty hug or handshake.” Or in this social-distancing era, we find “kind words” or “eye contact” to be as connected as possible.

All God’s people here send their greetings. 

God’s people. Do you like that title? I think it’s neat to know that people who belong to the church all together also belong to God. They are God’s people. And they are greeting one another over the miles through Paul. Do you ever send someone your greetings through a person? Do you ever receive such greetings? “Oh, so and so says hi, and they say they wish they could be here . . . ..”

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

This is one of the times in Scripture where each member of the Trinity is mentioned. That makes this sentence important for that reason alone. God is three. Yet one. Jesus Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.