MY BELOVED BRETHREN, BE YE STEADFAST

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

MAY 18

 

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable,

always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know

 that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

 
How affectionately the Apostle writes, 

   even to those who had grieved him, and 

       dishonoured his Master’s cause.
 
He not only calls them brethren, but “beloved brethren.”
 
In this he is our example.
 
But it is to the exhortation he delivers, to which we wish to call your attention. 

Many of us are unstable, as were many in the Apostle’s day.
 
Instability is a great evil.
 
It is injurious to our own souls, 

   it is a stumbling-block or a grief to others, and 

   it gives Satan an advantage over us. 

He is never unstable, his purpose is fixed, his aim is steady, his efforts are persevering.
 
Destroy if possible—distress if not—is his motto.
 
Brethren, let us be steadfast in our efforts to promote the glory of Christ.
 
But if we are to be steadfast let us be sure that we are building on the right foundation

  —that we hold the truth of Christ

  —that we are vitally untied to him, and are entirely consecrated to his praise.
 
Let us take nothing for granted here, but let us prove all things.
 
To the law and to the testimony.
 
Compare everything with God’s Word.
 

Then steadfast let us still remain,

Though dangers rise around,

And in the work presecrib’d by God

Yet more and more abound.

 
James Smith