Daily Devotion: July 28, 2014

Today’s Bible reading is I Corinthians chapter 15

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, Be you steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (I Corinthians 15:58)
Paul declared the Gospel. His life’s work after he was converted to faith in Christ Jesus was to tell others what God had done. Paul said, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” He laboured in the Gospel and saw a harvest of souls in the city of Corinth. Not only did Paul declare the Gospel, but also He defined it. Christ died for our sins, was buried, and He rose again the third day (I Corinthians 15:3-4). Not only did Paul define the Gospel, but also He defended it. There were some in Corinth that didn’t believe in a resurrection from the dead (I Corinthians 15:13). Paul defended the doctrine of resurrection by stating that if there be no resurrection from the dead then Christ is not risen. If Christ is not risen then preaching is in vain, faith is in vain, and witnessing is in vain. Everything we believe about salvation hinges on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because the Gospel is true, and because Jesus is raised from the dead we must be steadfast in our faith. We must not be easily shaken, and we should abound in the work of the Lord. Labor in the Gospel is not in vain. “But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 15:57)

Prayer: “Dear Lord, thank You for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, may we be faithful stewards of its message, and dedicated to proclaiming its truths to as many people as possible. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron