FRIDAY March 1st
1 Corinthians 15:58
‘Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.’
Well, after four weeks, we have come to the last verse of this magnificent chapter and to remind ourselves that Paul has written its content to remind the Corinthian believers of those things which are of first importance (vv1-8).
After what has become the longest section in the letter he has written, he says ‘Therefore’, considering what I have just written, which was all about the resurrection, ‘be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord’—and why? Because ‘in the Lord your labour is not in vain’.
How steadfast are we? Are we immovable, or are we easily moved, is our faith and our enthusiasm for our faith swaying as we navigate this world, perhaps too often sailing too close to the wind?
To be honest we have it relatively easy in Britain now, but it may not always be the case. Should trouble arise, should persecution come, should opposition come fiercely against us as Christian men and women, will your anchor hold?
Well, the answer is dependent upon how much we are fully trusting in Jesus and on how much we are building our lives upon that which matters for eternity rather than that which is but temporal. It will depend upon whether we are truly seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness or are we preferring to seek after the pleasure of this world and our own pursuits.
When Paul touched on the second coming in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 he closed it off with these words in verse 18 ‘Therefore encourage one another with these words.’
I trust that as I have taken us through this chapter it has been a means of encouragement to us all, but you don’t only need the encouragement that I give, we all need to be in a place where we are encouraging one another! And even so much more today. I conclude 1 Corinthians 15 with the words of a song:
It will be worth it all,
When we see Jesus!
Life’s trials will seem so small,
When we see Christ.
One glimpse of his dear face,
All sorrow will erase.
So, bravely run the race,
Till we see Christ.