Holding Firm

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

HOLD FIRMLY

1 Cor 15:1-2

15:1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

NIV

It is good to be reminded from time to time that we are indeed saved because of the gospel which has been preached to us. At least someone told us the gospel message about Jesus and we received it as the truth, becoming a believer, being saved, being born again. We have staked our lives on this truth, we have taken our stand, declared to the world our faith and hope in Jesus Christ for our redemption, our salvation, and our way of life. It appears, however, that we must continue to hold firmly to this word, this gospel message that we received, otherwise our belief is in vain. So then could we say that if we get distracted by all the things of this world that would not be holding firmly to the word? Could we say that if we get all catch up in the rat race of life, making success, money, material goods and personal pleasures, or creature comforts our primary goal, our ambition, our desire, then maybe all this faith stuff is just in vain? Could we say that if we spend more effort reading trash novels, fiction novels, or any other world centered book then we do the scriptures, we might be in danger of believing in vain? Could we say that if the only time we hear or talk anything about the gospel message is Sunday morning we might believe in vain? So then what does holding firmly to the word mean? It has to be about the gospel being the very center of our life, it drives everything we think, everything we say, everything we do and everything we desire. We must come to the realization this world is not our home, we are just passing through, our treasures are laid up beyond the blue, the angels beckon us from heavens open shore, and we just cannot feel home in this world anymore. All we are, all we have, all we do, must be due to Jesus. Although we cannot pay him back, we owe our very life to Jesus. But we can live our life for Jesus, which is live in a manner that brings honor and glory to him. We can stand firm, stand boldly for our belief in Jesus, even, no especially in the face of adversity, not matter the cost. We must hold firmly.