Today's Quick Word
Today’s Quick Word
1 Corinthians 15:58 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 labour in […]
1 Corinthians 15:58 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 labour in the Lord is not in vain.
As Paul brings his long and forceful letter to the church at Corinth to a close, he urges them in the strongest terms to stand rock-solid on the Gospel of their dying and risen Saviour. He is well aware of the pressures they are under, and that they will continue to face, both from a hostile, mocking world that prides itself in man’s wisdom, and from within their own ranks as still-being-sanctified believers compete for recognition and prominence among them.
His ‘therefore’ follows the best and clearest treatise we have on the essence, meaning and importance of the resurrection in the message of the Lord Jesus. Yes, we will suffer hardship, rejection, misunderstanding, persecution, even bewilderment, for the sake of Christ; but what makes it all worthwhile is the sure and certain HOPE of the resurrection. If it wasn’t for that hope, we would be among the most pitiable of people: “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied”(19). But because of that hope it is worth standing firm in the face of whatever ridicule or opposition might come our way.
Moreover, because of that hope Paul encourages us to throw ourselves wholeheartedly into doing the Lord’s work! Often we get very little response or feedback from our efforts and it’s tempting to question whether there’s much to be gained from pressing on. We don’t mind putting in the hard yards when there are visible results, but it’s not so easy without them. This has been brought home to me more recently as I’ve had to do the vacuuming and dusting in the house! When I mow the lawn (my usual domestic task) I can see things happening and when I look back where I’ve been, and see the difference, it is very satisfying and encouraging – but somehow that does not happen when I’m dusting!
When people whose mindset is focussed only on the things of this world look back on their lives, very few might be able to say that they’ve made any real impact on the overall scheme of things. But for those whose mind is fixed on Jesus, the One who now, because of the resurrection, rules over all things at the Father’s right hand, everything done for him is a winner because it impacts, not only the fading things of this world, but the things of eternity.
– Bruce Christian
