“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV
We are living in a very uncertain age. Coronavirus has swept the world and everything that was foundational, even to life itself, is being shaken. Children are back at school, but for how long? Jobs are being lost and unemployment is rising. People are no longer going to church services. No-one can go and watch live sport and, in the UK, people are banned from meeting in larger groups than six. It sounds like an episode from a futuristic horror series on TV! But this is the world we are now living in, in circumstances that are likely to prevail for some time to come.
So, how are we, as believers, to react in the face of such extreme and often traumatic events? Our Scripture for today says, “stand firm” and “let nothing move you”. These words are a reminder of where our security really lies. Not in our temporary earthly resources, but in the cast-iron security of eternity, where we know that whatever we do in serving the Lord here will not be in vain – for our reward is not an earthly one, but one that is anchored in heaven’s glory.
It is absolutely vital that those who know and love the Lord should continue to demonstrate His love into this fallen and broken world, so that those who are looking for an answer beyond what they hear on the television news, or read in the papers, will have the opportunity of seeing love in action and hearing the good news of the Gospel.
The enemy’s strategy is to so traumatise people, even believers, that they give up. Paul is challenging us never to give up, but persist in the faith and always be ready for the time that is coming soon, when the Saviour returns. The days may be dark, but into the darkness the Light has come! Let us keep our eyes fixed on Him and press on with all the works of the Kingdom that He has given each one of us to do.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that Your Word is totally trustworthy. Thank You that whatever the circumstances they are never a surprise to You. Help us to always be alert to the move of Your Spirit showing us what to do and to always be ready to speak out the reason in our hearts for the faith and hope that we have. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
