December 12, 2017 ALWAYS ABOUNDING
1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain.”
There are times when we may wonder, or question whether or not we are for sure doing the work of the Lord, and there are times when we may become discouraged by not seeing any fruit for our labor. The truth is, that at times, there is a ‘toiling’ or laboring that comes as we are about the life and the ministry that God has called us to. If we have the expectation that life should be free of trials and tribulations, we set ourselves up for disappointment and discouragement. All believers, not just ‘full time ministers’ are called to be about the ‘work of the Lord.’ Our culture, even including the church as a whole, has erroneously come to view that it is the ‘clergy’ or paid ministers that do the work of the Lord. As believers, we must reject this error and embrace the fact that God has given each of us a ministry that we are to fulfill. 2 Corinthians 5:18 tells us that “all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; And in Ephesians 4:11-13 we are told that God has gifted the body in such a way that each member is equipped “for the work of the ministry.” It is abundantly clear form the scriptures that each of us have been called to a ministry. Since it is God that has given us a ministry, fulfilling that ministry is our highest calling in life. When our ministry is our heartbeat, we will discover that we are actually ministering in all we do. This is true because God has given each of us a spiritual gift, and this gift is part of our new make-up-it’s who we are-it’s now our natural response to all of life. It is not ‘us’ blessing others and ministering to others, but God doing it through us! Sure-there are difficulties and heartaches that come-but when we understand that it is God in us expressing Himself to those around us, we find the energy and the desire to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” And because we know that God is faithful, we know that our toil is not in vain. Knowing this truth, we see beyond the immediate circumstances; we see that His ways are perfect and that His word never returns to Him void-His plans are fulfilled. As believers, we need to have the eyes of our hearts opened that we might see all that God has done and that He has joined us to Himself and has given each of us a ministry-and that He has equipped us for that ministry. Ephesians 1:18. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul is reminding and explaining just how great our salvation is and what God has in store for those who love Him-Christ will rule supreme, sin will be no more, and our mortal bodies will become immortal and we will be with Him forever! May this truth, this vision, be the core of our being-the motivation of our life.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2: “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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