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Strength of mind
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13, NIV)
Believing is not for the faint of heart. Paul’s life is a good example of this. He writes how on a missionary journey he was afflicted at every turn: from the outside by enemies, from the inside by fear. (2 Corinthians 7:5) Many Christians will recognize this, although most do not experience as extreme a situation as Paul did. He was imprisoned several times, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked… There seemed to be no end to his trials. And caring for the churches he had founded also weighed heavily on him at times. There was so much they still had to learn, there were so many dangers and problems…. It was enough to make one despondent! Therefore it is very striking that Paul says, “I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.” (2 Corinthians 7:4) How is that possible! Because God was with him and gave him exactly what he needed at that moment: a fellow believer who visited him and told him about the latest developments in the church at Corinth.
Paul is no exception in this. Other believers in the Bible also tell how they keep courage despite difficult circumstances, fears and disappointments. They are followers of Jesus Christ, who promised, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Do you feel strong? What gives you new courage when you are struggling?
Justice / righteousness
“Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)
In addition to being loving, the Lord God is also just. He is often called a fair Judge in the Bible. He treats all people equally.
God expects that attitude from us as well. We are to live “soberly, righteously, and godly ” (Titus 2:12, NKJV). In Ephesians 4:23-24, Paul says we must be renewed in our thinking, as a new person created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. John compares this process to a new birth: “If you know that [God] is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.” (1 John 2:29) Thus, when we live justly and righteously, we thereby show that we are a child of God and resemble Him in our behavior.
Specifically, justice means that we stand up for the rights of our fellow human beings. That we treat everyone equally and fairly. That we give others their due. This has its effect in court, in employment relationships, but also in the schoolyard and within families.
In history and in our present day society, we see countless examples of injustice. Are you aware of them? How could you make a difference by consciously striving for justice?
Whether you are new to the faith or have been a Christian for decades, God’s Word is a great source of encouragement, teaching and loving correction.
Biblword wants to help you get to know God and His Word by publishing a Bible verse with a short devotional every day. It does not take much time to read since it’s only 200-220 words per day, but it can help you to focus your attention on Bible portions you did not yet know, to think about them from a new perspective, or just to remind yourself how great God is!
