Look inside this book.Where the Bush is Burning: A Daily Devotional by [Thomas Tice]

Tag: I Corinthians 15
The Sting Of Death

The Sting Of Death

By |

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 

I John 3:8 

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

I Corinthians 15:56-57 

How has Christ succeeded in destroying the works of the devil? One of the most outstanding results of the devil’s work is death. Until sin entered into the world there was  no death. Sin came by the transgression of our first parents. Death followed as a consequence. When Christ died on the cross, He died as the representative Man, offering Himself as the substitutionary sacrifice for those condemned to die. The chapter from which the second portion of our text derives is the Resurrection chapter. Paul is explaining the fact of the resurrection as well as the ramifications of it. The facts are, there is a resurrection of the dead; Christ has risen from the dead, and as the result, He had defeated death. Death is the consequence of the work of the devil. Therefore, by defeating death, Christ is destroying his work. The resurrection from the dead of all of the redeemed of all ages will be one of the final proofs of Christ’s success. We believe these things. We understand from the Scripture that the day is coming when death and the grave will be cast into the lake of fire as proof that Christ has entirely succeeded in destroying the works of the devil.  

Our Gracious Savior and our God, 
we rejoice in Your victory over death. 
We praise You that the day is coming, 
when You will destroy death entirely.  

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning
My Beloved Brethren

My Beloved Brethren

By |

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 

I Corinthians 15:58 

Who does Paul encourage to be, steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord? He calls them, my beloved brethren. He includes all his readers. This is significant because when it comes to a discussion of, the work of the Lord, we are inclined to think of those who are in the ministry. We think of pastors, teachers, missionaries; anyone who we associate with, fulltime service. Paul does not see it that way. After clearly expounding the gospel, establishing the truth of the resurrection, explaining the long-term implications of the resurrection, and proclaiming victory over death, he encourages all who are his beloved brethren, to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. This is not the province of ministers alone. We have all received the blessings and benefits of Christ’s redemptive work. He has saved us all; is sanctifying us all; will change us all; and glorify us all. Therefore we are all stakeholders in the work of the Lord. His work is our work. His kingdom is our kingdom. We are the beloved brethren to whom Paul speaks. 

Our Glorious, Living Savior, 
we rejoice that we are one in You. 
We praise You that we are members of Your family, 
and Your beloved brethren. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning
Steadfast And Unmovable

Steadfast And Unmovable

By |

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 

I Corinthians 15:58 

How are we to hold the truth of the resurrection? There have been, are now, and will be many in the earth who deny the resurrection. When Paul wrote this chapter, he was addressing the issue, ‘some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead.’ He went on to prove Christ’s resurrection and our eventual resurrection. He concluded with the song of victory over death. On the heels of that glorious statement of Christ’s victory and ours, he tells us to be steadfast and unmovable. Thus, we allow nothing and no one to shift us from the truth revealed to us of the resurrection. This was key in the ministry of the New Testament Apostles. They constantly proclaimed the resurrection of the dead and Christ’s resurrection in particular. The Greek philosophers refused to hear it. The Jewish religionists violently opposed it. The Apostles would not shift from it. We believe the Apostles. We believe Christ has risen from the dead. We cannot and will not move from the truth we know and are called to declare. 

Our Gracious God and Heavenly Father, 
We rejoice that You have raised Christ from the dead. 
We praise You that You have confirmed it 
by many infallible truths. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning
The Work Of The Lord

The Work Of The Lord

By |

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 

I Corinthians 15:58

What is the work of the Lord? As Paul concludes his discussion of the resurrection, he makes a practical application to his readers to be, ‘steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.’ We can only follow that advice if we know what the work of the Lord is. When he began to write about the resurrection, Paul delivered his primary message, ‘For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.’ When he had come to the Corinthians originally, he had a definite purpose, ‘For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.’ The Apostles ‘ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.’ Thus, the work of the Lord is to make much of Christ. This does not involve preaching alone. Rather it includes the imitation of Christ as we follow Him, ‘Who went about doing good.’ As we follow Christ and contemplate Him, we will learn to imitate Him in word and deed. Thus, whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, we seek to do the work of the Lord by the imitation of Christ. This is the worthwhile work that our understanding of the resurrection produces. 

Our Gracious Master and our God, 
we rejoice that You have given us Your work to do. 
We praise You that You are the theme of it, 
and receive the glory for it. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning
Not In Vain

Not In Vain

By |

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 

I Corinthians 15:58 

What is the practical result of the resurrection as far as how we live life? As Paul draws his discussion of the resurrection to a close, he concludes with our text. He encourages his readers to ‘be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.’ He gives the reason as, ‘knowing your labor is not in vain in the Lord.’ To summarize Paul’s remark, ‘Continue to make much of Christ. You are not wasting your time.’ This is tremendously encouraging for anyone who seeks to promote the Person and work of Christ. Often it seems as if very few are interested in Christ or any message that speaks of Him. Every other message seems to draw a larger audience. At times the person who is making much of Christ can become discouraged because it may seem the labor is in vain. The Apostles, ‘ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.’ Paul determined not to know anything else but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Their message is our message. Their mission is our mission. We make much of Christ knowing it is not a waste of time. 

Our Wise and Sovereign God, 
we rejoice that Your plan is perfect. 
We praise You that in due course of time, 
You will bring everything to pass 
that You have purposed. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

Meta