1 Corinthians 16:19–24 (ESV)
Greetings
19 The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. 20 All the brothers send
you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. 22 If
anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Paul’s bittersweet conclusion illustrates his passion for the Gospel and for the congregation. Likewise, the Lord calls us to passionate service and love. Jesus, too, forcefully denounced those who abused
God’s Word (Mt 23:1–36); yet He poured out His love for all sinners, so that all might know His grace.
I pray: Dear Jesus, fill me with sincere passion for
sharing the Gospel with those who have not yet heard of or believed in Your grace. Amen.
Edward A. Engelbrecht, The Lutheran Study Bible (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2009), 1978.