day no. 13,426: the flesh profits nothing, yet nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless‏

1 Corinthians 15:50

What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.

The very best we can achieve in these frail, failing bodies can never accomplish for us eternal security.

We cannot muster or materialize a merit that lasts forever.

1 Corinthians 15:54-55

54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?”

But these dying bodies can be born again and made to live forever by the One who conquered sin, Satan and death forever by His perfect merit.

Death will finally and forever be defeated only upon our admission into eternal life by faith in Christ alone.

Then, and only then, will death be swallowed up and these bodies of ours made ready to survive the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 15:56-57

56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The bumble bee's buzz boasts of pain to come, but Jesus has absorbed the poison our sin required and now flying around is merely a wasp with no stinger, a rose with no thorn, a snake without fangs, a death without fear.

1 Corinthians 15:58

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Therefore, be full of joy and hope and faith that is manifested in increasing eagerness and activity in the name of Jesus, not because you need to earn it or pay it back, but because all that is required has already been achieved and is offered to you freely by the triumph of Jesus on our behalf.

Nothing you do for the Lord is EVER useless.