Our Labor is Not in Vain (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
– 1 Corinthians 15:58

This is such an awesome verse. The first word in this verse is awesome, “therefore”, because it refers to a whole chapter before this, where Paul has just talked about how Jesus has risen from the dead. And because He’s conquered death, we can have confidence that we will conquer death. All who trust in Jesus will experience resurrection fully and finally and bodily. He talks about how we’re going to be in a New Heaven and a New Earth in resurrected bodies, all because of faith in Jesus. And so he says, therefore, in light of that, in light of your future, in a resurrected body for all of eternity with God, death swallowed up. No more sting for sin or death forever. That’s what he says right before this.

Therefore, in light of that, be steadfast, be immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58 reminds us that pain and labor are not the end of our story.

So this is just encouragement to press on and persevere today, knowing what your future holds. This is the beauty that is true for every follower of Jesus. It’s expressed, maybe most clearly or popularly, in Psalm 23. “When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” For followers of Jesus, for those who know God, through Jesus, valleys are never the end. They’re never the destination. They’re always the throughway. We walk through valleys. So if you’re walking through a valley today, know that it’s not the end of your story. It will not be the end of your story.

So be steadfast, be immovable amidst the challenges you face in this world. And amidst the maybe even temptation to shrink back to compromise. The temptation to stay silent with the gospel. The temptation to not keep pressing on in faith. 1 Corinthians 15:8 says, “No, be steadfast, be immovable, abound in the work of the Lord.” Do all that He calls you to do today, tomorrow, and the next day. Live with zeal to do His work because you know that your work is not in vain. That work is going to bear fruit for all of eternity. So press on today, persevere today through the valley, through the challenges, through the temptations to shrink back. Knowing that your story is headed to a resurrected body with Jesus for all of eternity.

Oh God, help us to live with confidence today, with boldness in our faith. Boldness to trust You amidst challenges, amidst valleys that we’re walking through. Give us boldness to share You with others, not caring what others might think about us, because we know where all of history is headed. Toward full final resurrection for all those who trust in Jesus. God help us to live, to love others like that, to be steadfast and movable, and to abound in Your work. And God in so many ways help us to abound in loving others, caring for others. Help us to abound in doing justice and loving mercy. Lord, help us to abound in walking humbly with You. Help us to abound in the places where we go to school today, places where we’re at work today. Oh God, whatever we do wherever we go today, help us to keep our eyes fixed on You and to be steadfast and immovable as we walk with You and abound, we pray in all the work You’ve called us to do today.

Help us to do any kind of work for Your glory, for others’ good, and for our joy in the process. Oh God, help us to abound in prayer.

A Prayer for the Sri Lankan Moor People

We pray right now for the Moor people of Sri Lanka, for 737,000 Tamil-speaking Moor men, women, and children. God, we pray, we want to abound in prayer right now in intercession for the spread of your love, for the spread of the good news that Jesus has conquered sin and death to the Moor people and the thousands of other people groups like them. God, we want to abound in whatever work You’re calling us to do to make the gospel known among them and right around us today. God, we pray 1 Corinthians 15:58 over each other. Help us today to be steadfast, immovable, abounding in Your work, knowing that in You our labor is not in vain. It’s never in vain. In Jesus’ Name we pray, the Name of the One who conquered sin and death and guarantees our future with Him. Amen.