Thursday, April 28
Not in vain
Scripture: Judges 20, 1 Corinthians 15
1 Corinthians 15:9–10 For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Observation
1 Corinthians 15 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. It is Paul’s defense of the resurrection of the dead, both Jesus’ resurrection and ours.
Today I’m focusing on the phrase “not in vain” that appears in v. 10 and 58.
Though Paul persecuted the church and was undeserving to be an apostle, he was saved and called by the grace of God. “By the grace of God, I am what I am.” And that grace was “not in vain,” meaning, it produced results. The word “vain” (GK: kenos) means “empty, devoid of value, without result or effect or purpose.” God’s grace to Paul was not in vain.
Paul said that the result of God’s grace was that he worked harder as an apostle than anyone! Grace resulted in works. Good works flow from God’s grace in our lives, just as a grateful person happily does something for a benefactor.
So, Paul tells them, “be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work” because it’s “not in vain.” Your work for Jesus counts; it will have an effect. We may not—we will not—see the full results until the final resurrection. So keep at it—always excelling in the Lord’s work.
Application
Two things.
First, let God’s grace have its full effect in you. When we understand God’s grace, it changes everything. It made Paul go all in for Jesus; it should do the same for you (although your call will be different than his—whatever your call is, go all in). When I think of what He’s done for me, His undeserved goodness to me, I often whisper, “Lord, I owe you everything.” It’s so true. I do owe Him everything, and I want my gratitude for His grace to motivate “excelling in the Lord’s work.”
Second, do the Lord’s work out of gratitude for His grace and trust the results to God. Do what He says, and leave the results to Him, because He promises that “your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” It will have its effect. I often don’t see the effect of my prayers, my conversations, my hard work. In fact, sometimes it seems like nothing is working, nothing is happening, no one is paying attention. But there is a resurrection coming, and on that day, we’ll see what God did with our efforts…and it’s “not in vain.”
Prayer: Lord, I owe You everything. I offer You my life again today. Help me today to joyfully excel in the Lord’s work out of gratitude for all You’ve done for me. And joyfully leave the results in Your hands. Your grace in me, my work for you—it’s not in vain.