Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

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Also, if you have listened all the way through 1 Corinthians with me, write your first name, city, and state below. We would love to celebrate and pray with you today.

Our shout-out today goes to Shane Powell from Bellevue, WA. Thanks for your partnership in Project23.

Our text today is 1 Corinthians 16:21-24.

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. — 1 Corinthians 16:21-24

Paul takes the pen in his own hand and writes a few closing notes.

"If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed."

Sixteen chapters of correction come down to this: Do you love him? Not admire him. Not use him. Not align with him culturally. But truly love him.

He is impling covenant love—all in allegiance of the heart.

The dividing line in the church is not gifting, knowledge, or influence. It is devotion to and for Christ. You see, you can know doctrine. You can serve publicly. You can defend truth and still not love the Lord.

Then he says, "Maranatha." Or "Our Lord, come." For those who love him, that is hope. For those who do not, it is exposure. So you can feel that Paul is still exposing them.

And yet Paul ends with grace:

"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you."

Grace that forgives. Grace that awakens love. Resurrection truth demands affection.

Folks, doctrine must produce devotion. So the final question of 1 Corinthians is the same as the first. It is not, "Were you right?" It is, "Did you love the Lord?"

DO THIS:

Ask the Lord to expose coldness in your heart. Then take one concrete step this week to cultivate real affection for Christ—through prayer, worship, repentance, or obedience.

ASK THIS:

1. Would I welcome Christ's return today?
2. Is my faith driven by love—or by habit?
3. What is competing with my devotion to him?

PRAY THIS:

Lord Jesus, guard me from cold orthodoxy. Let my doctrine fuel devotion and my service flow from love. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"