58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
In these fast changing times this truth is good for us. Four little reminders as we pilgrimage with the Lord. Four things to hold onto to in the prevailing political and socially acceptable winds of our times.
First, be steadfast. That means be settled and permanent. What do you believe? Do you allow the times to dictate what you believe. I see it more and more when people take a stand and get a little backlash from the media and Hollywood for it people start crawfishing. They get intimidated into silence. Now is a time to remain steadfast. One Lord and Savior Jesus. One way to salvation - only through Jesus. One definition of marriage - one man and one woman. Are you settled on these things? There are so many nonnegotiable truths in the scriptures. Will we be settled on those truths even if they defy the mainstream mindset in society? Will the preacher be steadfast in preaching and teaching Bible truth and doctrine no matter what the experts say or the masses want to hear? Will students stand permanently with Jesus refusing to shame His name in low living.
To be steadfast requires conviction. It requires some backbone. It requires standing for a cause greater than yourself. People are standing for all kinds of causes these days. They are all over the news. Some get caught up in the hoopla. Some do it to stir the crowds. Some do it to promote an agenda. How many remain steadfast out of raw conviction? Every follower of Jesus should be such steadfast people.
Secondly, we are to be immovable. If you are a follower of Jesus and part of His church know the opposition is great. Satan himself. All his legions of demons. All his puppets in influential positions in society such as politics, professors, professional athletes, celebrities, judges, lawyers and wealthy lobbyists who pull strings to influence policies. All these forces of evil are against you and the church. How can you ever remain immovable? What does that even mean? It means to remain sedentary. Settled. It means you will not be pushed and bullied around. It means remaining obstinate, stubborn, firmly entrenched and some might even say dogmatic. Nothing is more immovable than Yahweh. Anchor your life to Him. May the church remain anchored to Him. Then we will be immovable.
We live in a society that gives little value to being firmly entrenched and immovable. In a world of constant ideas, to remain dogmatic, is seen as a threat to established cultural norms. Somebody somewhere is always working to get followers of Jesus to conform and compromise. To move an inch. Once that inch is given more will be taken. Actions that were unthinkable fifty years in public are now flaunted openly because the church of God did not remain immovable.
God wants His people to be steadfast and immovable. There is more.
We are also to be always abounding in the work of the Lord. That means to be continually increasing in the work of the Lord. What work? Evangelism. Prayer. Missions. Discipleship. Service. Ministering to the neglected and forgotten. Bible teaching. Bible reading. Bible study. Bible meditation. Bible memory. There is always work to be done for the Lord. Part of my work today includes writing this. I will no more than be done with this one and there will be something else to write. More work to be done.
Finally, we must keep reminding ourselves our work for Jesus is not in vain even if we cannot see the results. That means it is not empty and profitless. Sometimes it can look that way. People do not always get saved when you share the gospel. Prayers are not answered in the way you prayed them. People you pour your life into discipling turn away from Jesus and back to lives of debauchery. The alters remain empty week after week after passionate preaching and importunate prayer. Mission fields are ripe unto harvest but the laborers are few. We cannot give up though. Our labors are noted by the Lord. They are not wasted. We cannot see what He is doing behind the scenes. You be assuredHe is working. [John 5:17]
Maybe you needed those reminders today. Be steadfast. Be immovable. Always abound in the work of the Lord. Remember your labors for Jesus is not in vain.
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