The Work of the Lord

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

“50 What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. “Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

The work Christians do is vastly important.  Eternal lives depend upon it.  It is the work of Christ, the work of salvation.  Through the work of Christians, people come to the faith and are saved; people know that they will live an eternal life, that death has no sting.

So, Paul told the Corinthians never to give up; to strive always to be strong in their faith no matter what the world threw at them.  They were to use their talents and gifts that God had given them for the glory and service of God and they were to do God’s work above all things.

Many times we may want to give up.  We may think that we are not making a difference in the world, that evil seems to flourish and good seems to be defeated. 

But in these times, remember Paul’s words, “Be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord.”

And always remember that “the work of the Lord is never in vain.”

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)