Bible League: Living His Word So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.In Chapter 15 of I Corinthians the Apostle Paul defends belief in the resurrection of the body and the reality of the life to come (I Corinthians 15:12-57). Verse 58, the final verse of Chapter 15 and our verse for today, follows logically from the defense that precedes it. Given the reality of the resurrection and the life to come, we should live our lives in a certain way. We should live our lives in such a way that we will inherit everything that the life to come has for us. We should not say with the foolish "Let's feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!" because there actually is a life beyond the present one (I Corinthians 15:32). How should we live our lives, given what is to come? First, we should be "strong and immoveable." That is, we should never give up our faith in Jesus Christ and our walk with Him. There will be trials, troubles, and tribulations that will test our faith and tempt us to give up. There will also be the enticements of sin that will endeavor to lead us astray. Nevertheless, we should, as Paul says elsewhere, "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power" (Ephesians 6:10). Second, we should always "work enthusiastically for the Lord." Since we have become citizens of the Kingdom over which Jesus Christ reigns, we should take up our tasks as citizens and advance and enhance the Kingdom. In every area of life in the Kingdom we should do the will of God and fulfill the callings we have. And we should do all this enthusiastically, not half-heartedly. The reason why we should do all this enthusiastically is that "nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless." That is, nothing we do for the LORD is ever meaningless work without purpose or reward. The work we do for the LORD advances and enhances the Kingdom. It simply makes life better. As a bonus, it also stores up treasures in heaven for us that we will receive when the next life commences (Matthew 6:20). There will be a resurrection of the body and there will be a life to come. If you keep this in mind, it will help you to be strong, immoveable, and enthusiastic. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingProverbs 17, 18 Proverbs 17 -- Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Proverbs 18 -- An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 2 Corinthians 2 2 Corinthians 2 -- Reaffirm Your Love for the Sinner; We speak in Christ NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.Insight We often feel that life is a failure unless we're getting a lot out of it: recognition, fun, money, success. But Paul considered life worth nothing unless he used it for God's work. Challenge What he put into life was far more important than what he got out. Which is more important to you—what you get out of life, or what you put into it? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Habakkuk 1:8 Evening wolves.While preparing the present volume, this particular expression recurred to me so frequently, that in order to be rid of its constant importunity I determined to give a page to it. The evening wolf, infuriated by a day of hunger, was fiercer and more ravenous than he would have been in the morning. May not the furious creature represent our doubts and fears after a day of distraction of mind, losses in business, and perhaps ungenerous tauntings from our fellow men? How our thoughts howl in our ears, "Where is now thy God?" How voracious and greedy they are, swallowing up all suggestions of comfort, and remaining as hungry as before. Great Shepherd, slay these evening wolves, and bid thy sheep lie down in green pastures, undisturbed by insatiable unbelief. How like are the fiends of hell to evening wolves, for when the flock of Christ are in a cloudy and dark day, and their sun seems going down, they hasten to tear and to devour. They will scarcely attack the Christian in the daylight of faith, but in the gloom of soul conflict they fall upon him. O thou who hast laid down thy life for the sheep, preserve them from the fangs of the wolf. False teachers who craftily and industriously hunt for the precious life, devouring men by their false-hoods, are as dangerous and detestable as evening wolves. Darkness is their element, deceit is their character, destruction is their end. We are most in danger from them when they wear the sheep's skin. Blessed is he who is kept from them, for thousands are made the prey of grievous wolves that enter within the fold of the church. What a wonder of grace it is when fierce persecutors are converted, for then the wolf dwells with the lamb, and men of cruel ungovernable dispositions become gentle and teachable. O Lord, convert many such: for such we will pray tonight. Daily Light on the Daily Path Isaiah 40:31 Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. Isaiah 49:5 And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the LORD, And My God is My strength), 2 Corinthians 12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Isaiah 27:5 "Or let him rely on My protection, Let him make peace with Me, Let him make peace with Me." Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. Genesis 49:24 But his bow remained firm, And his arms were agile, From the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), Genesis 32:26 Then he said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking." But he said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 1 Samuel 17:45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. Psalm 35:1,2 A Psalm of David. Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; Fight against those who fight against me. • Take hold of buckler and shield And rise up for my help. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
Click for Video Devotionals     |