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 labor is not in vain.”
Dwell:
Paul offers believers three exhortations regarding the work of God as it pertains to the resurrection. First, they should be ‘steadfast’, standing firm in the Gospel. Second, they should be ‘immovable’, resisting the influence of falsehoods around them. Third, they should always ‘abound’, meaning they should excel and be outstanding in all their endeavors.
These exhortations highlight the practical implications of Jesus' resurrection. Paul emphasized that unless they performed the work of ministry with the power of the resurrected Christ, their efforts would be in vain. We cannot accomplish the Lord’s work with our own power; we must rely on God's power to do His work. Relying on our own strength and self-assurance is ultimately futile and self-serving, as it insults the Lord and flatters our egos. True service requires turning away from self-reliance, humbling ourselves, and submitting to the Holy Spirit as our only source of power. For God's people to be effective once again, we must commit to doing God's work with the Spirit of God as our only source of strength.
In conclusion, Paul encourages us with the assurance that ‘your labor will not be in vain.’ When you genuinely do God’s work with His power, your efforts are never wasted, regardless of the outcome or the season you find yourself in. Stay the course.
Thought:
“The central problem of our age is not liberalism or modernism, nor the old Roman Catholicism or the new Roman Catholicism, nor the threat of communism, nor even the threat of rationalism and the monolithic consensus which surrounds us. All these are dangerous but not the primary threat. The real problem is this: the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, individually, corporately, tending to do the Lord’s work in the power of the flesh rather than of the Spirit. The central problem is always in the midst of the people of God, not in the circumstances surrounding them.”
― Francis A. Schaeffer
Prayer:
Lord, what would our churches look like if we genuinely relied on the Holy Spirit to accomplish Your work? I fear that we often train people to evangelize, serve, and pray without them truly surrendering to Christ. Help us become people who drink deeply from the fountain of life and guide others to that life-giving source.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Well said. Thank you. Our attitude must not be, "What can I do today for God's Kingdom?", but, rather, "What can God accomplish today through the gifts and abilities He has given me?" A seemingly small but important distinction.