1 Corinthians 15
Trail Running vs. Treadmill Running!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, October 6.
I am not a fan of running on the treadmill. You work awfully hard to get nowhere! My favorite place to run is out on a hiking or mountain biking trail. The scenery is beautiful and the running is dynamic. A trail run is always rewarding and it never feels like exercise; it is its own experience!
Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
Do you ever feel like you are running on a treadmill in work, church, or life?
To labor in vain is to work hard and get nowhere—to have no apparent results or successes. As a pastor, I know that Paul gave us this verse for a very good reason! I need to know this in my heart of hearts. If you don’t get this, you will burn out or drop out of ministry!
Here’s the key: there is always a good work happening when you labor with the Lord:
- The good seeds of the gospel are being planted in people;
- The hard ground of the human heart is being softened by God’s Spirit;
- The life-giving light of God’s love is piercing the darkness to bring life from death.
We are to be faithful with what God has called us to do; with eyes on Jesus!
Seize the moment and don’t get discouraged; don’t bail before the blessing! When you are faithfully living in the easy yoke of Jesus, you are never running on a treadmill.