Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58
In the fifteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul is making the case for the resurrection of Christ. He begins with the eyewitness testimony of the apostles and moves to the order of the last resurrection. The apostle then points us to the hope of our resurrection and the promise of a new body. He ends the writing with a charge to stay strong and not give up.
Paul gives four commands in verse 58. These imperatives are given as a result of Christ’s resurrection and because of our future hope in Jesus. We would do well to heed these principles as we follow Christ. Let us examine them in brief.
1) Be steadfast. The Greek word here contains the idea of being firm or settled in our convictions. God has revealed His truth, the only truth, and we must remain firm in our beliefs and our dogmas.
2) Be immovable. This Greek word has the following definition—not to be moved from its place. Our hope is in Christ Jesus. Through His death and resurrection our sin is atoned and we are reconciled to God. No one can take this relationship away from us. Therefore, stand firm and do not be moved.
3) Always abound in the work of the Lord. Serving the Lord and ministering in His name should not be drudgery. Instead, we ought to serve from a position of abundance. God has equipped us and is with us in every situation. He will supply what we need and use us for His glory. Child of God, abound in service to the Lord.
4) Know that your work is not in vain. God adds to and multiplies the works that are completed in His name. Our service for Christ is never unnoticed by the Savior and it always accomplishes good for the Kingdom of God. We may not see the full effect of our labors in this life. But, we can rest assured that our toils are never empty and we can abound in the work of the Lord more and more.
Tony French
mrtonyfrench 