-September 7, 2020-
Good morning, happy Monday, happy Labor Day,
-Our Labor Is Not In Vain In the Lord-
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing your labor is not vain in the Lord.”
When something is in vain, it is worthless, a waste of time, effort, or money. Sometimes we get frustrated or angry over these things. But when it comes to the Lord’s work done according to His will, it is a different story: Our labor is not in vain in the Lord. In order for this to be true we have to do our part. Paul mentions three things we must do: be steadfast, immovable, and always abound in the work of the Lord.
1. Be steadfast – To be steadfast is to keep going, persevering, and enduring without quitting or giving up. It means to keep on keeping on. Nothing comes easy in life, especially in the Lord’s work. The lumberjack doesn’t know the exact number of axe strokes it will take to fell the tree, but he does know at least one more. In our work for the Lord, the flesh is against us, the world is against us, and the devil is against us.
2. Be immovable – To be immovable is be not easily moved. When we think of this word, we think of a large stone or rock. When the Lord Jesus was placed in the tomb, it was sealed with a huge stone. The women who came to anoint His body on Sunday morning, didn’t know how they would move such a stone. They found to their amazement that it was already moved out of the way. In terms of our trials, difficulties, problems, losses, sicknesses, or anything else, they cannot move the believer in Christ. God still rolls away stones in our lives.
3. Always abound in the work of the Lord – When we abound in something, we do it wholeheartedly, we give it our all. The phrase Paul uses is, “Always abounding in the work of the Lord.” This is exactly what Paul did and what we should do as well. The great missionary Hudson Taylor once said, “Depend on it. God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.” God gives the sufficient grace for His eternal work. He chooses to work through us His humble, weak vessels.
2 Corinthians 4:7 says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” God is glorified and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. The Lord is the best Boss to work for. He gives us the gifts, talents, abilities, and all other resources to do the job, and rewards us for what we do for Him. He always appreciates what we do for Him.
On this Labor Day, let us labor for the Lord with all our hearts, seeking His help and guidance. The hymn writer James Black wrote, “Let us labor for the Master from the dawn to setting sun, let us talk of all His wondrous love and care; Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done, and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.” May the Lord encourage us to be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord. It will never be in vain.
Have a happy Labor Day laboring for Jesus with great joy. Stay safe and healthy.
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 