Dear Redeeming Grace,

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. (1 Cor. 15:58 ESV)

Amazingly, these words come right on the heels of Paul expounding on the mystery of the last day and our own resurrections. He reminds the Corinthians that death is swallowed up in victory when the perishable puts on the imperishable. 

In our words, we sometimes use the phrase, "living in light of eternity." I think that's helpful because in the day to day, ins and outs of life, we can sometimes lose sight of the glory to come. And when we do, it's easy to lose the perspective and motivation that keep us steadfast, immovable and abounding in the work of the Lord.

So take heart in this reminder: in the Lord your labor is not in vain. That labor will look different for each of us. But for each of us, we can faithfully serve the Lord where we are and with what we have. We can store up treasure in heaven. We can labor not in our own strength or for our own glory, but "in the Lord." We can strive with his strength and walk in all the good works God prepared for us (Eph. 2:10).

Let's joyfully abound in the work of the Lord, grateful that our victory is in Christ.