We’ve got your daily encouragement, written by Aaron Martell.
Bible Reading:
1 Corinthians 15:54-58
54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Word:
I’ve always been fascinated by this passage because all of life is summarized in this passage. Everything of who God is, what Christ did, and what we have is summed up here. Because if Jesus doesn’t defeat death and sin, we have no hope.
Which means because of that truth, notice verse 57, “He gives us the victory.” We have victory because Jesus had victory. Then we jump to verse 58, “Stand firm, let nothing move you.” I love that picture. What is your source of strength? In what you can do, in how strong you are or those around you? Of course not, we can stand firm and let nothing move us because we have victory in Jesus.
I remember when my son, who’s 16 now, was maybe 3 or 4 years old. I asked him to pick up this ottoman and move it across the living room. He said, “Daddy, I’m not strong enough. I can’t do it.”
I told him, “Look around, how could you move this piece of furniture?”
He responded, “Daddy, I can’t.”
I said, “Buddy, you can use anything in this room. What will give you the greatest success in moving this ottoman?”
Finally, a bit defeated, he said, “Daddy, I don’t see anything, I can’t.”
Then I got down on one knee next to him and said, “Caleb, am I strong enough to move the ottoman, could you have asked me to help you?”
How many times do try to go through life, defeated, weak, thinking that we have to muster up enough strength to be strong enough? When in reality, because Christ has the victory, we have victory and we can stand firm in that victory.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, as Paul wrote, “Thanks be to God who gives us the victory,” thank you for giving us victory over death, because of Jesus’ victory. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Skillwork:
Action Steps
- Where in life do you feel like you are slipping or losing? How is Christ’s victory something you can stand firm in?
- Sometimes we miss what is right in front of us, how can you strength yourself through prayer or scripture to help you stand firm in that victory?
- Who may you need to come alongside of and stand firm with because you know a brother or sister is being moved by circumstances?
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