Hold Fast

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Context: 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

From the lexicon: Therefore=so then.   Be steadfast=sitting.    Be unmovable=firm.   Abounding=be over and above.   Work=employment.   Labor=toil.     Vain=empty-meaningless.  

Pulling it together: 1 Corinthians 15 is such a great chapter. It begins by explaining the Gospel (verses 1-5) and goes on to detail the return of Christ, the resurrection of believers, and the meeting with those believers on earth at his coming with Him in the air. Paul concludes: O death where is thy sting?, and grave where is thy victory? Such an encouragement this is for us today. Jesus is coming. In spite of all the unrest in the world, we can stand immovable for we have this promise. We have hope such as the world cannot give.

As we stand, we are called to abound-overflow with Godly works-doing His will-loving one another-proclaiming the way of reconciliation to Him, knowing that our work is not meaningless.

Lord, I pray for grace to stand firm on Your promises and to faithfully live for Your honor and glory, spreading the Gospel every chance I get.