April 21 Thought for the day....be the rock

Have you ever been called a "rock"? Not as in dumb as, but as you are the one who can be trusted! Paul encourages us to be just like that!

"So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless." 1 Corinthians 15:58

The church in Corinth was surrounded by all kinds of distractions. The church could easily be pulled away in to various kinds of sin that were normal in their society. Their culture was not all that different than ours. There were many kinds of divisions, people were driven to financial success above all else, sex, drugs, and every kind of desire were the norms in their culture. People were fake, plastic and could not be trusted. In order for the church to impact the culture rather than the culture impacting the church Paul challenges the men and women of God to be "strong and immovable".

In the Greek, this phrase means to be steadfast, diligent, strong, to be like a pillar in a building, to be a rock for the church. Paul is telling us to be like the pillar that if you were not there, the place would collapse. He asks the church to not be moved by anything going on in the culture, to stand firm.

If the church is moved by everything happening in our culture rather than moving our culture our faith will easily and quickly collapse. The world needs us to stand firm, our nation is only as strong as it is today because of Christian values and men and women of God who walk the walk and talk the talk. Are you like that? Are you someone who is a "rock", "a pillar"? Are you someone that people know they can completely trust? Are you are a person who is always reflecting Jesus? This is who the Holy Spirit, through Paul, is calling us to be.

You may be just this person and perhaps you don't even realize how important you are, God does! If you are being faithful, being strong and immovable in your faith and for the church, loving people and standing for them and for the Lord, be encouraged! God sees it all and will bless and honor your steadfast love, care, and faithfulness! Expect a blessing, you are a rock!