Daily Devotional: 1 Corinthians 15:58

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Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Throughout the Scriptures the call to be steadfast, to be immovable, to persevere, to endure with patience is a constant exhortation. Why? Why such an emphasis? I believe this is the case because the life of an alien, foreigner and stranger in this world is filled with uncertainty in momentary circumstances. Yet as citizens of heaven we are to live with the eternal hope in Christ and that eternal hope we have in Christ is what compels us and enables us to carry on.

I Corinthians 15:57 explains “…but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  In light of the victory of God through our Lord Jesus Christ we are therefore to be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.”

In the hope of the Gospel we are to be steady, unable and unwilling to shift or move from what is of first importance; that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in. accordance with the Scriptures…” (I Corinthians 15:3-4).

Likewise, we are to be always abounding in the work of the Lord. ‘Always’ is at all times and on every occasion and ‘abounding’ is to be abundant and plentiful, existing in large quantities. The work of the Lord is life lived to the glory of God.

There is much of life and ministry that has the potential to seem fruitless because we so often want to see fruit after a few minutes of faithfulness. Paul gives the encouragement to remember that as we are abounding in the work of the Lord we can be strengthened by “knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Maybe it is the investment you are pouring into a younger disciple of the Lord and you are tempted to wonder if this really matters. Your work unto the Lord It is not in vain.

Maybe it is the long, seemingly continual prayer for a wayward child who is rejecting sound, biblical wisdom or instruction. It is not in vain.

Maybe it is years of investment as a Sunday school teacher and you wonder if the lessons you faithfully teach are really sticking and impacting lives. Your work unto the Lord is not in vain.

Let us be those who stand firm in the Gospel and are continually abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that it is not in vain!