Solemn, Loving, Closing Words - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2025

The salutation of me Paul with my own hand. If anyone love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 16:21-24

Solemn, Loving, Closing Words
The apostle Paul has come to the end of his lengthy epistle written to the assembly at Corinth, and to us as well, for we too are sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by divine calling, who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (1:2). He has had to deal with divisiveness, fleshly attitudes, tolerance of immorality, lawsuits against fellow believers, questions about marriage, partaking of idol sacrifices, disorder at the Lord's Supper, use and misuse of spiritual gifts, women's roles, false teaching about the resurrection, and much more. Along with this corrective ministry, he has given much important teaching that is still of invaluable help to us today, and he has shared both his plans and those of other valued brothers.

He signs that which he has dictated, authenticating it. He adds what is probably the strongest statement in the entire letter. Mistakes can be corrected, practices can be changed, but nothing can take the place of love for the Lord Jesus Christ. Love for Him must motivate our every activity, energizing all that we do. Those without love for Him are accursed—this is what the Greek word anathema means. Maranatha is Aramaic for "The Lord is coming!" or "O Lord come!" Woe to one who is accursed when He comes.

Paul usually closes his letters with the next expression: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you." How we need His grace to carry out His commands and His desires! And then we hear the apostle touchingly adding his personal love in Christ Jesus to all who read or hear this epistle. He has had to write sternly and straightforwardly, but he sends what he has written with assurance of his love to all of us in Christ Jesus!

Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.