Morning, September 10
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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 Reading
Proverbs 17, 18


Proverbs 17 -- Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.

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Proverbs 18 -- An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.

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New Testament Reading
2 Corinthians 2


2 Corinthians 2 -- Reaffirm Your Love for the Sinner; We speak in Christ

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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
Mark 3:13  And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.

Here was sovereignty. Impatient spirits may fret and fume, because they are not called to the highest places in the ministry; but reader be it thine to rejoice that Jesus calleth whom he wills. If he shall leave me to be a doorkeeper in his house, I will cheerfully bless him for his grace in permitting me to do anything in his service. The call of Christ's servants comes from above. Jesus stands on the mountain, evermore above the world in holiness, earnestness, love and power. Those whom he calls must go up the mountain to him, they must seek to rise to his level by living in constant communion with him. They may not be able to mount to classic honors, or attain scholastic eminence, but they must like Moses go up into the mount of God and have familiar intercourse with the unseen God, or they will never be fitted to proclaim the gospel of peace. Jesus went apart to hold high fellowship with the Father, and we must enter into the same divine companionship if we would bless our fellowmen. No wonder that the apostles were clothed with power when they came down fresh from the mountain where Jesus was. This morning we must endeavour to ascend the mount of communion, that there we may be ordained to the lifework for which we are set apart. Let us not see the face of man today till we have seen Jesus. Time spent with him is laid out at blessed interest. We too shall cast out devils and work wonders if we go down into the world girded with that divine energy which Christ alone can give. It is of no use going to the Lord's battle till we are armed with heavenly weapons. We must see Jesus, this is essential. At the mercy-seat we will linger till he shall manifest himself unto us as he doth not unto the world, and until we can truthfully say, "We were with him in the Holy Mount."

Daily Light on the Daily Path
Jeremiah 32:39  and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them.

Ezekiel 36:26  "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Psalm 25:8-10  Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. • He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way. • All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.

John 17:21  that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

Ephesians 4:1-6  Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, • with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, • being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. • There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; • one Lord, one faith, one baptism, • one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

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.

Evening September 9
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