Greater than our Failure

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 – ESV)

Christians should not be known primarily for what we don’t do, but what we will do. The ministry of helps is just as valuable as all the other ministries God calls us to. 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 – He has appointed and so He has anointed. It is tremendously important that is why we have and need so many with these gifts. In all the little things you do it may seem like no one cares, but believe me, God’s secret service men and women will be highly paid in heaven. The unnoticed things God notices, He will appreciate all your unappreciated work, it is not in vain.

As a pastor I struggle. Understanding this promise changes our perspective and motivation. If we believe and act in accordance with this promise it helps keep us from compromising the truth.

The proper motivation is God’s glory, we need to change our ideas, and we need to leave the results to God. Don’t compromise to get results; your labor is not in vain. It is worth it, in heaven you will see that it was but you need to realize that now and be more concerned for Jesus and His glory than for people and your glory. Are you aiming to please the crowd or the Crown?

Without a proper esteem and love for Christ Himself, and an understanding of His covenant love for His church, we will lack the motive and power to serve Him in the world. If our ultimate motivation for service for God is simply because we love people, we will never be able to sustain the call to service that God has given to us because the very people we are called to serve will break our hearts. It is only the grace of Christ that enables us to persevere. Jesus had His heart broken but His love for His Father kept Him on course.

All of the hardships our missionaries have to suffer, the demonically inspired ethnic cleansing, the killing of hundreds of Christians, burning churches, burning people, all in the name of lies, but the truth is that all of this is not in vain. Hebrews 13:3 – Their destiny is tied up with our destiny (1 Corinthians 6:17). Their hope is our hope. Their God is our God, and their labor is not in vain!

Even though we have our trials, and our tribulations, we face a difficult life, pressure and persecution are always near, and death knocks on every doorstep, still we can know in no uncertain terms that our labor in the Lord is worth it all, it is not ever in vain. I know that one day in eternity I will see members of the congregation that the Lord has given me, members who have lost loved ones, members who have had cancer and died, members who lost their jobs, their homes, their health, their spouse, their children, their minds, that found themselves the enemies of the world, and our friends overseas who have gone to jail and given their very lives for the sake of the gospel, I know that one day in heaven we will all be glad, grateful, and glorifying the great God of our salvation in eternal bliss together, forever. We will sit down and feast at the great marriage supper of the Lamb and we will know it was all worth it.

These things may be above and beyond our understanding but they are not above and beyond our God, and He says that all our struggles, our hurts, our losses, and our work will not be in vain. He sent His Son to make that promise sure. He has made provision for our every mistake. We can look to Christ, we can look to the Cross, and we can know that God will make it all right (Acts 2:23 / Romans 8:28). He is greater than our failures. It is all by His grace, and that grace is not given in vain. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14). Amen.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©