DEVOTION – DAY 619

I Corinthians 15:58 “Your Labors For God Are Not In Vain”

1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Because of Jesus’ resurrection, and as believers, we too have been resurrected to a new life in Christ, we know that serving the Lord is not a useless and empty activity. Our labor for Him is never in vain. All our efforts in service for the Lord are invested in His winning cause. Our rewards are waiting for us at His second coming. 

In 1 Cor. 15, the apostle Paul had presented convincing proof that Jesus Christ’s resurrection was witnessed by hundreds and that Christians worship a risen Lord. Paul also stated that all Christians are also spiritually resurrected in Christ when they chose to follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior. In addition, one day, when Christ returns, they will have a new resurrected body, just like Christ. Therefore, Christians must stand firm in this knowledge and not doubt this promise. Instead, they are to devote themselves to serving the Lord wherever the Lord calls them to serve.

We know someone who left her comfort zone in Canada, to come to Malaysia to do some voluntary work teaching refugees. During this time, as she sought the Lord’s direction for her through the study of the Bible, she was led to consider serving the Lord in Africa. She was directed to a Christian organization actively involved in ministering to orphans and disadvantaged children, and providing Christian education in a number of poor African countries. In faith, she prayed for financial sponsors. God opened doors for her. Today, she is actively serving in an orphanage in Rwanda, caring for and teaching children God’s Word, impacting young lives. It gives her joy and satisfaction that her labor will not be in vain, and that it means so much to the Rwandan children she cares for. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we worship you for You are the only true Risen Lord and King. Thank you for Your gift of eternal salvation, and a new life in Christ. Please help us focus on serving you purposefully to impact the lives of others. We humbly pray in the powerful name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. What changes have you or your family members seen in yourself since you were raised to a new life in Christ?
  2. In what ways have you fully given yourself to serving the Lord?
  3. What were the results of your service for the Lord?
  4. How has the Lord equipped you to serve Him?