Day 7

Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 16:19–24

Since 1 Corinthians is a letter that God led Paul to write to the Christians in Corinth, we find some final greetings and words of encouragement as we close out this letter. We read in 1 Corinthians 16:19–24, “The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. 20 All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 21 The greeting is in my own hand—Paul. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.” God had Paul mention many of the believers that Paul had served with who wanted to send their greetings to the believers in Corinth. This is such a great reminder that we, as Christians, are one universal church bonded together with all other Christians around the world as brothers and sisters through our Lord Jesus Christ. We serve one Lord, and one day we’ll be united together with our Lord as one family, with one Heavenly Father. God also had Paul remind the believers in Corinth that if anyone did not love our Lord and had not surrendered to Him, then that person was still under the curse of sin and was separated from God. “Maranatha” is an Aramaic phrase that occurs once in the New Testament and is translated either “Our Lord, come” or “Our Lord has come.” Either way, it’s a reminder to live for Him alone.

Challenge & Application

What does it mean to you to know that you, as a Christian, are part of the universal family of God? How does the word “Maranatha” challenge you to live for our Lord every day of your life?

Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!

Devotionals from this week

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Day 1

God has taught us so much through His Word in 1 Corinthians. We are in our final chapter, and God used Paul to deal with a few more things that we must take to heart as God’s children. We read in 1 Corinthians 16:1–4, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of ev...

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Day 2

God has a plan for each to fulfill. He tells us in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” God again tells us in Titus 2:14, “who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own po...

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Day 3

We know God has called us to serve Him, and as we serve, God desires us to bring younger Christians alongside us to mentor them (Matthew 28:19) so they can learn to serve Him as we do. God had used Paul in Timothy’s life to disciple him and help him grow in his walk with our Lord. Paul had mentored Timothy well, and so, as God led Paul to wri...

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Day 4

As Christians, as we serve our Lord, we have the distinct privilege of serving with other Christians in ministry. As God led Paul to write, we read in 1 Corinthians 16:12, “But concerning Apollos our brother, I encouraged him greatly to come to you with the brethren; and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has o...

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Day 5

God had used Paul to make deep investments in the people of Corinth. The letter of 1 Corinthians that God had Paul write was another way to challenge the believers in Corinth in their walk with our Lord, but also a challenge for every Christian since that time to make sure we are abiding in Christ and not living according to our flesh. We rea...

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Day 6

There are certain people that God brings into our lives as incredible examples of how to walk with Christ each day. God had those kinds of examples for the believers in Corinth also. We read in 1 Corinthians 16:15–18, “Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have ...

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Day 7

Since 1 Corinthians is a letter that God led Paul to write to the Christians in Corinth, we find some final greetings and words of encouragement as we close out this letter. We read in 1 Corinthians 16:19–24, “The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. 20 All the b...

Read