Abiding and Abounding

Abiding and Abounding

1Co 15:57 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.
Teacher (lecturing on perseverance): “He drove straight to his goal. He looked neither to his right nor to his left, but pressed forward, moved by a definite purpose, driven. Neither friend nor foe could delay him or turn him from his course. All who crossed his path did so at their own peril. Class, what would you call such a man? Student: “A truck driver!”
Apostle Paul stated that being assured of a victorious destination; we need not suffer defeat in the journey. Like the truck driver behind the wheel of an enormous rig, we need not be intimidated by smaller obstacles or little, deviant drivers who want to hog the road or discourage our progress. Through Jesus Christ we are in a very “big rig”. We cannot be defeated in reaching our final destination. He has given us the victory!
There seems to be contrasting terms in the above verses. We are to be steadfast and unmovable yet abounding in the work of the Lord. The harmony of these two phrases is this: we are to progress in the work of the Lord being unmoved and persistent in our purpose. In other words, we are to abide in our purpose in Christ and we are to abound (supersede) in the accomplishment of the purpose. The confidence that we have is not necessarily in our ability in driving but the size of our “big rig” (the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.)
There is no reason to merely sit in our “Big Rig” and idle the fuel away. We should put the “pedal to the metal”. We have a mighty cause. We are driving for the biggest outfit. When we reach our final terminal, may we hear our superintendent say, “Well done!”
Dear Lord thank you for the promised victory. Give me clarity in my purpose to day to deliver the goods undamaged and on time. Give me the strength and courage to persevere, in Jesus name, amen.