Your work is not in Vain

Dear friendsYour work in the Lord is not in vain.

You may or may not recognise the bit of the Bible I am quoting, but that’s not the point just now. I want you to think of something you did for the Lord recently.

Maybe it was the time when you were tempted to explode in anger, but you tried to behave in a Christlike way.

Maybe it was something you did for someone when part of you was saying you’d rather not.

Maybe it was the time you were asked about your faith, and you took the opportunity to talk about Jesus.

Maybe it was hard work and it’s been hard work for a while.

I want you to know that your work is not in vain, even if sometimes it feels that way. Sometimes we wonder if it was all a waste of time. Sometimes we might prefer an easier life.

Ok. Here’s the full quote from 1 Corinthians 15.

“Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.”

This verse comes after 57 verses talking about the resurrection, both Jesus’ resurrection and ours, and the difference it makes. Our work stands, not because we are strong but because his victory stands forever. Everything gets drawn in to the heavenly victory.

Remember that Good Friday looked like failure. Jesus’ followers thought that everything that Jesus had done had been in vain. On the third day they started to think differently. What is sown in dishonour is raised in glory. What is sown in weakness is raised in power.

Don’t worry about success. Get on with the thing God is calling you to do, the chance to serve him that comes your way today.

In his grace,

James