June 28, 2022 – Reflections on “Steadfast, Immovable, Abounding!”
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. I Corinthians 15:58.
Who named all the stars and put them in place? Who created birds that can fly or animals to have their own look and sound? Who creates the wonder of the Sun as it traverses the sky and creates unforgettable sunrises and sunsets? Who created you and me and many other people to think, speak, and gifts us for His Purposes? It all began with God.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:1-3.
How long has it been since that week when God’s love became known? Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations. Deuteronomy 7:9.
He holds time in His Hands. If it rains more than three days, we whine and complain, sounding like the Children of Israel in the Wilderness. Noah endured 40 days and nights of rain.
Endurance in waiting on the Lord is a commitment to our faithfulness to Him. Obeying God’s Commands is our pathway to Peace and Joy in the One who gives us life and salvation for an eternity.
Steadfast faith in Him and His Word gives us assurance for living each day. His Word transforms our lives. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105.
Being steadfast, immovable, and abounding is an example we see examples in the Old Testament. Noah, Abraham, and Daniel are three examples. As I read the book of Daniel, I see someone who exhibits the ability to be steadfast to God the Father through being taken captive for 70 years and taken to King Nebuchadnezzar’s Palace in Babylon. Among the youth chosen to be educated for three years in the literature and language of the Chaldeans were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, were among those chosen.
Their names were changed to Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They chose to eat vegetables instead of the rich food and wine the King ate. As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Daniel 1:17.
When King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, he sent for his educated men to explain it to him. They didn’t rely on their own knowledge, but sought wisdom from God, who gave him the mystery of the dream. Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” Daniel 2:20-21.
Daniel 6 chronicles Daniel in the lion’s den and why they were released unhurt. Daniel went through illness, distress, things he did not understand, and yet He remained unmovable in his faith to God. In Daniel 2:44, we read And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break into pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever.
Because of the strong faith in God in the examples in the Old Testament, God placed their life’s legacies in the Word to teach us how to reflect God’s Steadfast Love. We are God’s Legacies that glorify Him in the ways we choose to live in a relationship with Him.
We rejoice and are encouraged by the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament with this assurance that once we accept Jesus, these verses hold true. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39.
We look ahead to what God has planned for us, a kingdom that shall never end. Each morning, we wake and Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12.
We are to be holy, for I am Holy. This is written in Leviticus 11:44, and again in I Peter 1:16. Impossible? Not when our Holy God is abounding in our hearts. Holy means being set apart for Him.
Growing up, Mom taught me to cut a pie in five pieces for the five in our family. If one piece seemed bigger than the other four, Mom always said, “Give the largest piece to Dad!” Mom set Dad apart to be honored with the best piece. This is the way to live our lives, to give God the glory and the best part of our lives. It is only possible through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Our understanding that steadfastness only comes through our Lord are these two verses. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23.
And we sing… The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty, Let all the Earth rejoice, All the Earth rejoice, He wraps himself in light, And darkness tries to hide. And trembles at His voice, Trembles at His voice, How Great, how great is our God. (Chris Tomlin)