Unmovable

I Corinthians 15 is a pretty cool chapter, but as I considered what God had in store for this post, I couldn't shake the encouragement that verse 58 offers.

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable; always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

In the preceding verses, if I can boil it down, Paul essentially says that what Christ accomplished through His death and resurrection is possible because of who He is. If we are dead because of Adam, then we are alive because of Christ. However, without His death and resurrection, we have nothing. There is no witness, no testimony... no gospel to preach whereby man can be saved.

Paul goes on to explain many more spiritual truths, making the comparison between the physical and spiritual man before arrives to this place of encouragement, but he understands well, the power of the gospel as it transformed his life, from one known as a prosecutor of the faith to a protector of the faith.

Our victory in life is made possible the life of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The enemy would love for nothing less, than cracks in the armor of our faith; areas of weakness in our life, whereby he can distract us and use our frustrations and concerns against us to take us of course. Even to the point, that Paul witnesses in his day; that some were not preaching the full gospel (which is much of his explanation in this chapter) But whether the challenge of ministry lies in our understanding of the gospel or life has skewed our perspective of what God has and desires to accomplish in and through our lives, Paul's encouragement stands.

These are days in which pastors and parishioners alike must be steadfast; unmovable. The truth of Christ and the power of God is alive and at work in our midst and though the days may feel as such or attacked as such, the gospel of the kingdom of God, is not a vanity exercise, nor the labor with which we pursue it.

Join me, this #associatePastorTuesday; that pastors would be encouraged, to remain steadfast and unmovable. May God strengthen the weak and the weary among us; that Christ would be made alive in their body, mind, soul and spirit. Anew and afresh, may the be revitalized in their efforts to preach the Gospel and make Christ known. Pray the distractions and disruptions of life would not throw them of course; but they would continue the race, fighting the good fight of faith.

Steadfast and unmovable.
Not by the naysayers in life,
Nor the disruptions of it.
Preaching the full gospel
And the whole counsel of God.
In a world of darkness
For the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC