Motivation
Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
Stand firm … Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord …
1 Corinthians 15:58
For sixty adult years of her life, Wilma loved and cared for her husband and six children, working tirelessly for her church and the schools her children attended. Opposing racism, she worked to fix its effects, tutoring kids and joining the Urban League, the only white woman present back when most members were people of color. People asked, “How does she do it?”
At her funeral, Wilma’s son asked me to speak about the resurrection, highlighting today’s verse. He said, “Mom was busy in God’s work, doing good. Because of Christ she was never worried about her future.”
The book of 1 Corinthians addresses big questions for Christian people in the bustling city of Corinth: What to do when food in the market is routinely sacrificed to idols? How should the Lord’s Supper be celebrated? How do spiritual gifts build the body? What is love? What will happen to believers who die before Jesus comes back? It’s a great deal of advice and rules. What motivates people to follow it all?
The gospel motivates by relieving people’s worries about dying. Christ died for our sins, and he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. We have a future beyond death, because Christ arose! Our bodies will be raised on the last day too. Death is defeated! So let’s get to work.
Thank you, Father God, for people we know who give themselves completely to your work. Thank you for taking away distractions about the future, as we serve you. Amen.
About the author — John Rozeboom
Rev. John Rozeboom is a retired pastor of the Christian Reformed Church and a former director of Christian Reformed Home Missions. Currently he is coaching and supporting elders, ministers, and a congregation in mission. John and Linda Rozeboom live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and they have two married children and five grandchildren.
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