This week, Michael writes
that some people think that if you quote the bible, you're guilty of “hate
speech”. However, the Word of God says abhor that which is evil and to
cleave unto that which is good. Despite the darkness of a fallen world we
have hope in the resurrection. Our hope is in our risen Lord. The
challenge in 1 Corinthians 15 is to finish strong, steadfast and unmovable. Steadfast
means to be firmly fixed in place. Paul said in 2 Timothy 6-8, “For I am now
ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a
good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there
is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also
that love his appearing.”
Steadfast also means devoted
and loyal and unyielding to accomplish the purpose for which we've been called:
that we should be to the praise of the glory of God’s grace both now and in
eternity. Despite persecution and shame, Jesus said "even though they will crucify me, I'll rise again on the third day." The
15th chapter of 1 Corinthians is about our hope of heaven because we
confessed that Jesus is Lord and have believed that God has raised him from the
dead. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the hope of our resurrection.
The Apostle Peter had
dedicated himself to follow his Lord Jesus Christ. However, Peter prided
himself on his own ability and in his own confidence. Jesus said to Peter,
before the cock crows twice you shall deny me three times. God's timing is
amazing. When Jesus was led out during his mockery of a trial, he looked toward
Peter and their eyes met. Peter had just denied his Lord the third
time. Jesus looked at Peter not with condemnation and judgment but with
love, mercy, grace and compassion. Peter turned away convicted, went away, and
wept bitterly. Besides turning from our wicked ways, repentance means that
God will break our heart for what breaks his. Jesus changed Simon's name to
"Peter" meaning the Rock. However like Peter, we must have our
egos crushed in order to be rebuilt according to his purpose.
In the Old Testament, Joseph
was sold to Potiphar, a rich man who served the Pharaoh. Because godly Joseph
proved himself trustworthy, wise and ethical in his dealings, Potiphar gave him
authority over everything he had, except his wife. Potiphar's wife was
drawn to Joseph and tempted him to sin with her in sex. Joseph said, "Your husband has entrusted me with
everything he has except for you. How could I do this evil against him
and against my God?" He literally obeyed the command, "flee
fornication." As Joseph ran away from Potiphar's wife, she grabbed
his coat and stripped it away from him. Later she used Joseph's coat to accuse
him of attacking her. The conclusion to Joseph's story is in
Genesis
50:20. “But as for you, you
thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is
this day, to save much people alive.”
We're all works in
process. He will break our hearts like he did the Apostle Paul's.
Only then can we come to Paul's conclusion: "thy strength is made
perfect in my weakness, thy grace is sufficient for me." God bless the
broken road on life’s path to glory. Trials and tests are for our good. Only
through the trials of life can we learn that God is our sufficiency. Jesus
said, “I am the vine and ye are the
branches. if you abide in me and I in you then you will bear much fruit.”
Those He loves He will prune. When He prunes us, only then can we
together bear much fruit. According to Psalm 1, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the
counsel of the ungodly, nor sits in the seat of the scornful, nor stands in the
way of sinners. But his delight is in the law of the lord and in his law
doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by
the rivers of waters. His leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he
does shall prosper.”
Being “steadfast” is being rooted,
grounded, and built up in the Lord. As Oswald Chambers said, when the crisis comes and courage is
required, God expects us to be the reliable ones. Through the trials
of life, we will learn that tribulation
works patience and patience experience and experience hope, and hope makes not
ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit
which is given to us.
We were unworthy and guilty
of sin before a just and holy God. We are saved not because of who we are,
but because of who He is. For Jesus
Christ came not into the world to condemn the world but that the world through
him might be saved. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone,
in Christ alone. Therefore, be ye
steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye
know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
May we ever live to the
praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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