Immovable

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. 1 Corinthians 15:58

PAUL HAS JUST SPENT an entire chapter explaining the reality of the coming resurrection, impressing upon the people at the church in Corinth that resurrection is not merely something religious and unreal but a matter of “first importance” (verse 3, ESV). Because Jesus died and his body was resurrected from the grave, we can be sure that all who are joined to Christ will one day have that same experience. Death is not going to get the last word in the believer’s life.

Paul then points to the difference this belief and confidence in resurrection should make in the lives of believers. It should make us strong and steadfast. Confidence in the coming resurrection keeps us going until our work is done. It makes us immovable, meaning that we don’t easily lose our balance and get knocked down. Whenever the winds blow through our family in the form of difficulty, sickness, financial pressure, relational strife, or ungodly perspectives, we do not veer off course. We are resolute regarding what is true, what is reliable, and what is forever.

It’s not that we are unwilling to listen to others or that we are belligerent or intolerant with other views. It’s simply that we are so convinced that the gospel is true and that Christ has ultimate authority over everything —even death —that our confidence in him is unshakable.

As we persevere in the work of parenting, we can be sure that what we’re doing matters beyond this life. We are not laboring to create the perfect family here and now. We are laboring for the souls of our children because we know that the day is coming when bodies will be raised to be joined to those souls, and we long to be surrounded by our children on that day. So we are strong and immovable in loving the Lord, talking about his Word, and living like we really do believe that resurrection day is coming.

Lord, may the truth of the resurrection of Jesus and the certainty of the resurrection of all believers make us strong and steadfast in our parenting work. May it make us immovable as we look to you as our only hope.