Palm 16:2

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in 1 Corinthians 16. The Spirit called my attention to verse 22:

1Corinthians 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

The curse on all who do not love the Lord Jesus Christ is severe: Anathema Maranatha. It means to be accursed at His coming.

The expression was in common use, a “saying.” It’s like the “faithful saying” Paul mentions in 1 Timothy 1:15 and also in 4:9; these sayings circulated widely among believers in Paul’s day. This expression, Anathema Maranatha, became a loan phrase among believers, like Café from French or piano from Italian. These are foreign words that we use as English words. Anathema Maranatha became a catchphrase, used to pronounce the Divine curse upon the wicked. Anathema Maranatha delivers the unbeliever to the wrath of Christ at His return. The expression became a catchphrase among English-speaking Christians from the 1500s through the 1800s, appearing in Puritan writings and in early Baptist and Methodist preaching. It was used to condemn heresy and moral apostasy. For this reason, the KJV translators transliterated the expression.

The conspirators plotting to murder Paul placed themselves under an anathema (Acts 23:14). Paul declared he was willing to be accursed (anathema) if it meant his brethren would be saved (Romans 9:3). Some in the church at Corinth were blasphemously called Jesus Christ anathema (1 Corinthians 12:3). But the Spirit used the expression to curse those who preached a false gospel (Galatians 1:8-9), and who “love not the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 16:22).

Along the still waters, I thought about the curse and the many who call themselves “Christians” who are under it. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15; see 15:10). If this is what it means to love the Lord Jesus Christ, then those who refuse to live under His command are placed under this curse.

We are exhorted: “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19). Any who love the Lord Jesus Christ are constrained by that love to “depart from iniquity” (2 Corinthians 5:14). For we love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Jesus warned about the many who will profess they know Him in “that day,” whom He will dismiss, saying, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-23). The proof of our love is obedience to command.

The believer is expected to love the Lord Jesus Christ. This love is expressed in obedience to His word. Our love response to Christ is to obey Him.

In the valley, kneeling in the shadow of His Cross, where His love for us was displayed in full, I renewed my vows to honor the Life He gave with the life He has given me. He said, Jerry, it’s another day, and it’s time to do your daily duty: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

We sat at His table to sup (Revelation 3:20). He washed my feet (John 13:14; 1 John 1:7-9) and exhorted me to do the same (John 13:14; Matthew  6:12). He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace (Psalm 23:5). Goodness and mercy followed me as we walked together into His harvest (1 Corinthians 3:9).

Praying for revival! 🙏