Many of us hear and believe in the resurrection of Jesus, but perhaps we might have a difficult time understanding what it means for us now in this life. We have hope for a better tomorrow. We have hope for a life spent in the presence of God for eternity. We have hope for a future with no fear and sickness and sorrow. For many of us, those are things to come, but what about right now?

         In 1 Cor 15:58, Paul says that in light of Christ’s victory over death, “therefore…be steadfast, immovable always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” Paul is saying here that the resurrection of Jesus motivates us to give everything we have to the work of the Lord since we know that our labour in the Lord is not an empty effort. Since we have been raised to new life with Christ, we ought to continue steadfastly in the Lord’s work. Everything we do to bring people into the kingdom, everything we do to build people up in the faith will have eternal significance.  

         Sometimes we may wonder if what we are doing for Christ makes any difference. Sometimes we may question, “Is what I’m doing even effective? Is my work all in vain? It seems like I am not bearing any fruit.”  

        What Paul is saying is that according to the resurrection, our service matters - no matter how small or insignificant it seems! It matters because Jesus’ resurrection gives it eternal significance.

         If you’re actively in ministry in the church, are you discouraged? If you’re active engaging your neighbors and friends and family with the love of Christ, or if you’re trying to bring people into the kingdom of God, are you disheartened because it seems your efforts are not amounting to much?  

         If you feel like all your work is insignificant; if you feel like your work isn’t effective. Maybe you feel like your hard work in the gospel isn’t producing the way you’d like. Take heart, keep pressing on because ALL of your labour is not in vain.  

         The victory we have in the resurrection assures us of that. So if you are discouraged in your labors, STAND FAST! If you are disheartened, keep pressing on. Paul says to abound, which means to overflow in the work of the LORD.   Your work has an effect that will last for an eternity. The resurrection of Jesus assures us of this. 

          許多人會聽過和相信耶穌基督復活的事，但其實我們可能未必真正完全明白復活對我們今生有什麼意義。我們對將會有一個更好的未來有盼望。我們對能夠擁有在永恆國度裡與神同在的生命懷有盼望。我們對將來會再没有恐懼、病痛及哀傷有盼望。對大多數的人來說，這一切都是將要來到的事，但此時此刻又如何？

        哥林多前書 15:58 中保羅提及關於主耶穌基督在死亡上的得勝，「所以，我親愛的弟兄們，你們務要堅固，不可搖動，常常竭力多做主工，因為知道，你們的勞苦在主裡面不是徒然的。」保羅的意思是，主耶穌基督的復活是那使我們願意竭盡全力，為主作工的推動力，因為我們深知在主裡面的工作和努力並不是徒然的。因着主耶穌基督的緣故我們有了新的生命，我們就應該繼續堅定不移地在主裡作工。每次當我們將人帶進神的國度裡，又或是每次當我們建立別人對主的信心的時候，這一切都有着永恆的價值和意義。

        有些時候我們或許會想我們為主耶穌基督所作的真的能產生影響嗎？ 有時我們或許會問「我所作的有果效嗎？我所作的工是否徒然的？我似乎看不到有任何成果。」

        但保羅所說明的，就是正因着復活，我們的服侍是重要的 - 縱使以人的眼光來看是何等的微小或渺小！ 它是重要的，因為耶穌基督的復活給它帶來永恆的價值。

        若你現正努力地參與教會事工，你曾有灰心氣餒的時候嗎？當你正努力地向鄰居、朋友、家人宣揚耶穌基督的愛，又或是努力地將人帶進神的國度裡時，是否因為看來你所作的努力成效不大，而令你心灰意冷呢？

        若你覺得你的工作一點也不重要或者並沒有果效；又或是你覺得在福音工作上的努力，成效並不如你所想的一樣，振作起來，繼續堅忍下去，因為你所作的工並不是徒然的。

        在復活裡的得勝肯定了我們所作的一切。所以當你感到心灰意冷，堅守下去！當你氣餒沮喪的時候，不要搖動。保羅說「常常竭力」，意思就是傾倒一切，為主作工。      

        你的工作是有果效的，它的影響將會延續到永恆裡，主耶穌基督的復活再一次肯定我們的工作。

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