Stand Firm

Today's full reading: 1 Corinthians 15:29-58

"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 labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV)

As we near the end of Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth it is important to recognize the significance of such a letter. Paul was righting to correct, rebuke, and train the believers to live and serve Christ in a way that honored the Lord. Notice how the tone of Paul writing become remarkably forceful. I sense a certain amount of urgency in his short specific commands. "Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58)

These words apply to us today just like they did to the church in Corinth. So what does it mean to "stand firm"? I think it means commit. We are surrounded by people who fail to keep their commitments. God is calling us to "give ourselves fully" to his work, and we must commit to take a stand for him. In the words of the great hymn writer George Duffield Jr. (1858), "Stand up, stand up for Jesus!"

Today, as an act of worship, praise God for giving us such a clear word of instruction. Embrace the truth by giving yourself not partially but fully to the Lord's work.