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Theme: THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORD OF GOD
Text: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58.
Comment: To be steadfast is to be firm and unwavering in purpose, loyalty, or resolve; to be firmly fixed or constant. St. Paul wrote these encouraging words to the Christians at Corinth to the end that they may remain true to their faith and not allow their high ethical standards to be diluted by the immoral lifestyle of many of the people of Corinth at that time. St. Paul listed the things which could move Christians away from the faith to include tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and death (sword). (Romans 8:35) Tribulation according to Encarta is “something that causes great difficulty, affliction, or distress, e.g. an ordeal”. There are several social, economic and political factors that could make people in this age to be in distress. A number of times harvests fail in parts of the world due to invasion by pests, long periods of extremely dry weather or because of extended periods of heavy rainfall, and so on. Some times deaths multiply due to epidemics and wars. But none of these factors should prevent us from being fervent in the work of God, knowing that His protection over us is sure and that it is when we continue until the end, abundant blessings await us. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” – 1 Corinthians 2:9.