Remaining true to Jesus may be difficult, but it is never pointless or wasted.
January 24, 2017
Read: 1 Corinthians 15:50–58 | Bible in a Year: Exodus 9–11; Matthew 15:21–39
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand
firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of
the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58
A financial advisor I know describes the reality of investing
money by saying, “Hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.” With
almost every decision we make in life there is uncertainty about the
outcome. Yet there is one course we can follow where no matter what
happens, we know that in the end it will not be a wasted effort.
The apostle Paul spent a year with the followers of Jesus in Corinth, a city known for its moral corruption. After he left, he urged them in a follow-up letter not to be discouraged or feel that their witness for Christ was of no value. He assured them that a day is coming when the Lord will return and even death will be swallowed up in victory (1 Cor. 15:52–55).
Remaining true to Jesus may be difficult, discouraging, and even
dangerous, but it is never pointless or wasted. As we walk with the Lord
and witness to His presence and power, our lives are not in vain! We
can be sure of that.
The apostle Paul spent a year with the followers of Jesus in Corinth, a city known for its moral corruption. After he left, he urged them in a follow-up letter not to be discouraged or feel that their witness for Christ was of no value. He assured them that a day is coming when the Lord will return and even death will be swallowed up in victory (1 Cor. 15:52–55).
Lord, in these days of uncertainty, we hold fast to Your promise that our labor for You will accomplish Your purpose and be of great value in Your eyes.
Our life and witness for Jesus Christ are not in vain.
INSIGHT:
In the fourth century, John Chrysostom, a church leader who
served in Constantinople, reflected the same expectation of the return
of Christ we hold today. Imagine living in the ancient city of
Constantinople. To the west, barbarian tribes threaten to attack Rome,
which for centuries has been the center of the vast Roman Empire. Your
city is not currently under attack, but you face the challenges people
of the ancient world experienced without the assistance of modern
medicine and mechanical devices to make life easier. Yet above it all,
Chrysostom preaches to the people about the return of Christ. To ears
who listened then, the hope of Christ’s return stirred the soul as it
still does today. How does the promise of Christ’s return give you hope
and encouragement in your service for Christ?
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