Nougat 23

Have you ever heard a song and affiliated it with a place or group? There’s an interesting song, which chorus I sang a lot as a child, the context and verses of which I am still unfamiliar. Back in the day, I knew ‘I shall not be moved’ was a Rastafarian song, that might have its roots in today’s Holy Nougat (Now I will confess that a quick visit to YouTube suggests that it is based on the nougat, but it most definitely isn’t originally Rastafarian.)

“But thanks be to God, who keeps giving us the victory through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah! Therefore, my dearly loved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord—because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:57-58‬ ‭TLV‬‬

Our writer (sometimes it pays to read the Bible as personally written to us) builds on the thesis of death defeated by telling us to be steadfast, immovable and the epitome of excellence. Looking at each individually may be instructive.

Steadfast

The Greek word transliterated ‘steadfast’ speaks to being permanently seated, fixed in mind or morals, not given to ‘moving off-course’ or to fluctuations. Two images come to mind; the movement of horses being led by bits and blinders – they go only where led; and the rhythm of a metronome when the timing is set for musical accompaniment. To some extent, each image covers a key element of my understanding of steadfastness.

Firstly, I don’t think we can be morally right all the time by ourselves. Not since The Fall. We will remember the somewhat simple, straightforward direction given to Adam: ‘Eat These, Not That’ (Genesis 2:16-17). And while we might argue that the instructions fostered the sin; we know that the storyline shifts dramatically from its intent as a beguiled Adam ate that fruit, like a horse without blinders and bit will stray in every direction away from the handlers plan. Unfortunately Adam and Eve are not alone in that trait; so we need both prayer and submitting to God to keep us in line.

Hence the metronome: we rely upon the rhythm of God’s heartbeat, God’s Spirit to keep us going. Just as the metronome remains constant, allowing for different patterns within the time; so it is when God’s Spirit leads us. We may each produce different ‘patterns’ of worship and ministry; but it is all beautiful when lead by God’s Spirit.

Immovable

To be immovable is not so much being constant as it is about being unyielding. What’s the difference you say. The enemy of our soul is constant, relentless even in seeking to help us stray from God’s plan for our lives. We need to be immovable, unyielding to the advances. And this comes by choosing to yield to Christ. (Remember Jesus’ prophetic statement to Simon? ’You are the Rock’ … immovable, but yielded to God’s Spirit for establishing God’s new government. Matthew 16:18) When we have our blinders on, dancing to the rhythm set by God’s Spirit, it is easier to remain unyielding. When we couple steadfastness with immovability in our spiritual lives, we are on a direct path to victory over death, which is the writer’s thesis.

Excellence in God’s Work

It stands to reason then that we should seek to excel in all God sets before us. If we remain yielded and steadfast in Christ by the power of God’s Spirit; then we MUST be uncomfortable with failure and mediocrity. Don’t misunderstand me now, I am not saying that we can’t get stumped. I am proposing that we seek to meet God’s standards BY God’s grace. Given our yieldedness to Christ, we already recognize that we cannot in our own strength do very much. With our steadfast adherence to the beat of God’s Spirit we are attuned to Christ, so it is easier to press forward with grace for that which is set before us.

Moreover, we have a full grand stand of saints cheering us on right alongside the angels who believe in us; whether we believe in ourselves! Ain’t nothing to be but Excellent!

So do you join the song now? It’s probably the original, but not the version I grew up hearing

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May all we seek be found in Christ