14 All in Verses for MenSample

Are you being attacked from without and within and confused about what to do?

This is Vince Miller.

Our text today is from 1 Corinthians 15:58. It reads:

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

When we read a verse like this outside of its context, we may skip over critical pieces of information that help us interpret it. What the teacher is telling the believers in Corinth is that Christian beliefs oppose the world's views. Our spiritual beliefs tune us to a reality that collides with those of the world; because of this, we will need to be steadfast and immovable.

But here's the deal. This is more challenging when you have opposition outside and inside your ranks, which is precisely the challenge in the church in Corinth. They had rising woke ideologies on the outside pressing on them from politics, government, businesses, media, and educational institutions. Sound familiar? But now, some of these ideas had leaked inside of the church. So Paul was helping them to correctly understand these false ideologies so that they would be able to address them with outsiders and insiders. But he also knew they would not only need correct teaching but that they would need the emotional fortitude to stand behind correct teaching. So he commands them to be steadfast and immovable.

Please keep this in mind.

If you choose to be steadfast, you are going to question yourself. You will wonder if you did the right thing, especially if you stood up and spoke for what is right and righteous. And there will be a season immediately following a steadfast moment that you will wonder two things. First, did I do the right thing? Second, will it matter? And the wisdom of Paul to the believers in Corinth is this. Yes! It matters. Because steadfast men who bear the weight of righteous teaching are critical to advancing the Gospel, these men play the long game because God's work through God's man is never in vain.

So identify the battle you are facing today. Is it a battle outside or inside your ranks? Then choose your steadfast action and then take it. Then in the moment following that action, don't question it or alter the plan. Remember, the steadfast man has God on his side, and he plays a long game. For our steadfast work is never in vain.