Enthusiasm for Christ

1Corinthians 15:49 Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man. 50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. 51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. 54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:"Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?" 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. (NLT)

There is an old song that says, "I'll have a new body, Praise the Lord I'll have a new life." My father-in-law says, "Whether I go by way of the undertaker or the uppertaker my eternity is secure in Jesus Christ."

So here we have the promise of eternity with a body that will not die. That is great encouragement, and Paul tells us to allow that encouragement to drive us to be strong and immovable. I believe he is talking about being strong in faith and love. He uses the same thought in Colossians 1 that we looked at last week.

Then he tells his readers to "Work enthusiastically for the Lord." And along with that is the promise that nothing done for the Lord is "ever useless."

Today ask yourself, "Is my service for the Lord Enthusiastic?"
"Do I look at the work I do for Christ and sometimes think it is a waste of time?" The Apostle Paul tells us our work is never useless. Choose to believe that and work enthusiastically for your God and King.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr