![\"Work](\"https:\/\/trainchurchleaders.com\/practicum\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/work-not-in-vain.jpg\")
If that describes how you feel, read and re-read the exhortation in 1 Corinthians 15:58:<\/p>\nWhen asked to describe how they feel about scheduling efforts, leaders might use words like frustrating, discouraging, and disheartening. They might cite the time-consuming and never-ending nature of this task. Dealing with people’s last-minute cancellations produces a continual need to find replacements, or reshuffle, and sometimes even change plans because of it.<\/p>\n
If that describes how you feel, read and re-read the exhortation in 1 Corinthians 15:58:<\/p>\n
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Cor. 15:58)<\/em><\/p>\n The whole chapter of 1 Corinthians 15 provides the context for the needed perspective in tasks that can seem frustrating.<\/p>\n 1)<\/strong> Verses 1-11 – the Gospel, “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4)<\/p>\n Notice how the phrase, “according to Scriptures”, appears twice in these verses. Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection happened as God had planned and prophesied. We can rely on God to do what He says. When we get to the last verse of the chapter and read to “give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain”, we can trust that to be true even if it doesn’t feel like it. When we do all we do in Jesus name (Col. 3:17), even tasks like scheduling get elevated to a place of purpose.<\/p>\n 2)<\/strong> Verses 12-34 – Jesus’ resurrection from the dead<\/p>\n If Jesus hadn’t been raised from the dead, then ministry of any type is useless (1 Cor. 15:14). Faith is futile (1 Cor. 15:17). We are to be pitied for putting ourselves through frustrating endeavors and hardships needlessly (1 Cor. 15:19). Since God did raise Jesus from the dead, it is all worthwhile. The woes of scheduling don’t compare to the hardships and threats of death the Apostle Paul constantly faced. Because of the resurrection, he persevered (1 Cor. 15:30-32). Can’t we endure the frustrations of scheduling?<\/p>\n 3)<\/strong> Verses 35-57 – the resurrection of our bodies<\/p>\n Even “death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor. 15:54). Nothing is impossible with God. As we keep our focus on the eternal, the tedious labor here on earth or the inconsideration and excuses of others, doesn’t have to overcome us. We know a better day lies ahead.<\/p>\n Out of the above context we get to verse 58. Pay attention to the capitalized words.<\/p>\n Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let NOTHING move you. ALWAYS give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord<\/strong> is not in vain.<\/p>\n NOTHING: Even tasks like scheduling shouldn’t move us to negative attitudes of gloom and despair.<\/p>\n ALWAYS: In everything, at all times, including when we’re doing scheduling, we should give ourselves completely to the work of the Lord.<\/p>\n Now look at the emboldened phrase in the verse above for the key to it all.<\/p>\n Labor in the Lord:<\/strong> When we do what we do not only for, but in<\/strong>, our Resurrected Lord, we can rise above anything. We can exclaim, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:57). We have access to that same power that God exerted in raising Jesus from the dead (Eph. 1:19-20) when we do what we do in the Lord<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Also Read:<\/strong> Church’s Power – The Resurrection<\/a><\/p>\n For More, Go To:<\/strong>\u00a0Resources about Resurrection Power<\/a><\/p>\n When asked to describe how they feel about scheduling efforts, leaders might use words like frustrating, discouraging, and disheartening. They might cite the time-consuming and never-ending nature of this task. Dealing with people’s last-minute cancellations produces a continual need to find replacements, or reshuffle, and sometimes even change plans because of it. If that describes how you feel, read and re-read the exhortation in 1 Corinthians 15:58: . . . Continue reading Frustrated by the Task of Scheduling?<\/span>Why Even the Task of Scheduling Doesn’t Have to Move Us<\/h2>\n
How the Resurrection Affects the Frustrations of Ministry<\/h2>\n
All Posts about Scheduling:<\/h3>