Strong and Steady

Chuckle: "Be nice to your kids. They will choose your nursing home one day!"

Ponder This: “I do not pray for success. I ask for faithfulness.” --Mother Teresa

"So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady (stand firm), always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless (in vain)" (I Corinthians 15:58 NLT).

Do you ever become tired or apathetic toward service to your Lord? Do you become discouraged when faced with the apathy of other Christians? Do you feel you have failed when you do not see the results of your labor you expected? To whom do you look for rewards for your faithful service? In our passage, Paul says that because of the resurrection of Christ, nothing we do for him is ever in vain or useless. However, sometimes we can become apathetic about our service because we don't see the results for which we pray.

As I read this passage, I am reminded that Christ has already won the ultimate victory over sin, death, and the grave, and this knowledge should definitely affect the way I live right now. You should never lose your excitement and enthusiasm for the work of our Lord. You should never become weary or discouraged over an apparent lack of results from your faithfulness, but rather keep on doing the work of the Lord with the assurance that it is not in vain.

"Years ago a humble pastor served a church in a little country town. His ministry was quiet, and few souls were brought to Christ there. Year in and year out, the work became more and more discouraging. It was only years later that the faithful minister found great joy in the knowledge that one of those he had won to Christ was Charles Haddon Spurgeon, a man who was later used by God to bring multitudes to his Son. Humble service is rewarded now and certainly will be rewarded even more when Christ comes."

Hold on, persevere, be faithful to the trust given you. Take courage and never give up or give in to the temptation to let up in your service to your Lord. You can rest assured that you will be rewarded for your faithfulness in God's own time. Reflect on the hope you have in Christ and what he has done for you. Such reflection will remind you of God's amazing love and Christ's amazing sacrifice that atoned for your sins and gave you the assurance of eternal life. Serving him out of love and gratitude should be the desire of our lives.

“In the movie, Chariots of fire, young Harold Abrahams, a champion sprinter, had just suffered his first ever defeat. After the race he sat alone, pouting in the bleachers. When his girlfriend tried to encourage him, he bellowed, “If I can’t win, I won’t run!” To which she wisely replied, “If you don’t run, you can’t win.” Abrahams went on to win the 1924 Olympic Gold Medal in the hundred-meter run.” Illustrations for Biblical Preaching; Edited by Michael P. Green

If we remain strong and steady, everything we do for our Lord for his glory is credited to our accounts and will bear eternal rewards (2 Corinthians 5:10).

 

Love, Jerry & Dotse