As I read the scriptures today during my time of devotion, I came across a passage of the Bible that encouraged me in no small way.
I believe that you would receive encouragement from it too and that is why I want to share it with you.
I Corinthians 15:58 NKJV
[58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
To get the full encouragement in the scripture above, we would need to read the same scripture from other versions of the Bible.
Let’s start with the New International Version.
1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV
[58] 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.
Let’s see how it reads in the Amplified version.
1 Corinthians 15:58 AMP
[58] Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].
Now, let’s see how Good New Translation puts it.
1 Corinthians 15:58 GNT
[58] So then, my dear friends, stand firm and steady. Keep busy always in your work for the Lord, since you know that nothing you do in the Lord’s service is ever useless.
Lastly, we would be considering the Message Translation of the same text.
1 Corinthians 15:58 MSG
[58] With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.
God wants us to never be discouraged in our service to him. He wants us to know that nothing we do for him is useless.
Men may not see much to your service to God, but God sees much to it.
There is no little service in the sight of God.
Even when you have not done so much in terms of the effort put into the work and the number of harvests brought into the fold, God esteems your service highly and he will certainly reward you greatly.
The harvest is plenty, and laborers will no longer be few.
Apostle Destiny Kingston