It is Not in Vain

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

Deep in the Amazon jungle, a local church in a village where missionaries Luke and Martha were stationed is baptising new converts. Suddenly, they see five warriors from the dreaded Skull Splitters (Yanomami) tribe armed with bows and arrows and deadly poison darts. Fear grips the hearts of those present. But to everyone’s amazement, the warriors join the line to be baptised along with thirty-two others. After they are baptised, the warriors tell Luke and Martha they had walked through the jungle for ten days. They tell them, “We have been killing people and drugging ourselves. We want to live a different life. Somebody told us about the Son of God. Do you know who that is?”

In the 1960’s, two missionaries attempted to reach the Yanomami and planted seeds of the gospel, but were largely unsuccessful in making new converts. Fifty-five years later, God impresses upon Luke and Martha’s hearts to make the treacherous journey to the hostile tribe. Three years later, 4.600 people, including the Yanomami in 21 remote villages, had become followers of Jesus.

God Never Grows Weary

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

We all have situations in our lives when we look to the Lord for a breakthrough. Breakthrough in our family, work, school and the various arenas of life. But it seems as if God is silent. We are working hard at our workplace. We work diligently and with integrity. Each day we say to the Lord, “Today I will carry out my work as unto You.” But while we are doing this, others are getting unfair credit. Others are being promoted. Perhaps in our family, we try hard to discipline our children, but they are led astray by their peers into substance abuse. Perhaps we are doing what God is calling us to do, but we don’t see any fruit. Perhaps we are praying for loved ones or others to be saved, but they remain blind to the gospel.

God is saying to each of us today. “Don’t give up. Don’t grow weary. I never grow weary. My strength is sufficient for you.” We may not see the outworking of our work and prayers just yet. But God sees, and He hears. He has promised us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). Let us thank and praise Him for His victory. He who has promised is faithful and will do it (Hebrews 10:23).

 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)

Reflection:

Are you getting tired of working diligently, praying for a breakthrough in your situation? Do not give in to your weariness. You will see His victory.

Prayer:

Lord, You see that I am tired and weary. Give me the grace I need so that I don’t give up. I lift my hands to you and thank You and praise You for the victory that You’ve already won. In Jesus’ name, amen.