This is a picture of the well-photographed and famous “Haystack” on the Oregon Coast. It’s what I think of when I read the following verses.
“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 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.” I Corinthians 5:57-58
I remember a time when Dave & I had first started doing cowboy ministry. We had been going night and day, and we were facing some pretty heavy personal attacks from people that were very close to us. I can hear myself saying, “We don’t need this! We are serving the Lord and loving Jesus. We can go back to farming alfalfa, we don’t need all this.” And that’s when he looked up at a plaque on the wall and read me the verses above.
I knew it was God and that we were to continue but I was also angry. I wanted to lick my wounds and go off into the corner. I almost threw something at him. And then I repented and told the Lord I had been feeling sorry for myself and that I would let go and let God! I’m glad I learned that lesson then; it has been relived a number of times in my life since.
The Christian life isn’t for whiners. I love the wording in the King James – Be steadfast and immovable, ALWAYS abounding in the work of the Lord.
We run into discouragement when we work “for” the Lord and not “with” him. I’ve worked for the Lord before, and it’s been by my own efforts and for my own purposes. It’s much better when I work with Him and draw on His strength and have His purpose.
To work with Him means to work in faith because it’s faith that pleases God and Jesus said he always pleased His Father. So, James gives us this instruction for standing steadfast.
“If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking. 6 But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. 7-8 If you are that kind of person, you can’t make up your mind, and you surely can’t be trusted. So don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all.” James 1:5-8 ERV
A few days back I gave you a list of verses, God’s words, to review and make part of your daily living. They are the firm foundation we stand on. They are the foundation that does not collapse in a storm.
“Whoever hears these teachings of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house. But it did not fall because it was built on rock.
26 “Whoever hears these teachings of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.” Matthew 7:24-26 ERV
Steadfast, immovable means we don’t waiver.
Stand with your faith firmly anchored to God and His Word and when life’s storms come you will remain standing. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand. All other ground is sinking sand!