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1 Corinthians 15:58 - Labor In The Lord Is Not In Vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58: Labor In The Lord Is Not In Vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV) Therefore, my dear brothers and 
sisters, 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 (NLT) 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. 

   How do you feel about the future? If you asked your neighbors 
that question, what do you think they would say?  
   Floods, earthquakes, and fires have devastated certain parts 
of our country and the world. Add to that the crumbling economies 
and civil unrest in the third world, plus increased crime rates and 
pollution in the West, and you have one big world mess. In light of all 
this, the future does not look too bright.  
   For those who do not know Christ, the future looks even more 
bleak. For Christians, however, the future holds a great deal of hope. 
 
   Did you know that Christians have great hope for the future? 
Someday all believers will be given new bodies. Eternal life in heaven 
with God will cancel out death and give us a joyful, permanent home 
with God far better than anything we could experience here. Nothing 
we do for God goes unnoticed - none of it is in vain (1 Corinthians 
15:51-58).  
   No nuclear threat, no biological menace, no political coup, 
no financial collapse can undo our hope for the future. Despite the 
worldly problems we face each day, God has a plan for us and is in 
control of everything.  
   Do not despair. No matter what the headlines say, keep your 
eternal future in view and keep on doing the will of God. Anchor your 
life in the hope of eternal life, promised by God and won by Jesus 
Christ. Be encouraged. Find your hope in Christ. [The One Year Through 
the Bible Devotional by Dave Veerman mod] 

   High in the Andes Mountains, a plant known as the puya 
raimondii - or the Queen of the Andes - grows to more than 30 feet and can 
live well over 100 years. But the plant flowers only once, and even 
then only at the end of its life. At some point between 80 to 100 
years of age in the wild, its massive spikes flower into a glorious 
display, and then the plant dies. In other words, it takes a really long 
time for anyone to see its stunning beauty. 
   Some investments are like that. They show little or no growth 
for years, only to offer unexpected returns at an opportune time. 
That isn't always the case in the Kingdom of God; sometimes our 
investments of time, talent, and resources bear visible fruit quickly. But 
often they don't. As with slow-flowering plants or slow-growth 
investments, only patient endurance allows us to see the end and reap the 
reward. 
   Because this is a common dynamic in the Kingdom, we need to 
be extremely patient and persistent in our eternal investments. Our 
prayers may not show many results for awhile, but they are still 
accomplishing much. Our work may not seem productive at the moment, but it 
will nevertheless produce much. Our attitudes may not seem to rub off 
on those around us, but they eventually will. Our love may not 
appear to make a difference, but as an expression of God's heart, it 
certainly will. In itself, time is not a significant variable in 
determining the value of a Kingdom investment. 
   Kingdom citizens must be tenacious. We must be willing to 
hang on to a promise for decades, pray over a problem with 
persistence, and keep sowing seeds of God's purposes and resources whether we 
see results or not, knowing they will eventually bear fruit. After 
all, they are His seeds, and He is the source of life. How could they 
not? Everything He touches will eventually flourish, including us. 
[The One Year Heaven On Earth Devotional by Chris Tiegreen] 

   Keep walking. This may be the day your Jericho walls come 
down. 
   We all face them. Strongholds with a strong hold on our 
lives. Roadblocks to our joy. Obstacles in our marriages. Fortresses of 
fear blocking us from peace. How can we bring down these walls that 
keep us from the future God promises? 
   Remember the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho? Those 
were some formidable foes and big barriers. 
   Max Lucado says the book of Joshua is in the bible to remind 
us of one thing: God Fights For Us! We can overcome, because He has 
already overcome. 
   We were not made to stand in the shadow of our walls and 
quake. We were made to stand on top of Jericho's rubble and conquer. We 
win, because God's already won. 
   Need a new battle plan for life? Keep walking, keep 
believing. These may be your Glory Days. Max Lucado 

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/1997/19970825-0000.html

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo [old, but one of the best] 

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]  

Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782

Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE

Musical Devotional On Christian Living: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c  

Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David DeRose, MD, MPH: 
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/

ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug Batchelor: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK 

Restoring The Power by John Bradshaw: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRogO1SxoZN15Boa7BMon4BouVMdteVaq 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657  

Last Day Prophecy: His Other Sheep by Pastor Gerald Babanezhad: 
https://vimeo.com/162267518