2 minute read.
Daily Reading: Job 12:1-15:35 ESV, 1 Corinthians 15:29-58 ESV, Psalm 39:1-13 ESV, Proverbs 21:30-31 ESV
Daily Verse: “I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” (1 Corinthians 15:50 ESV)
PHTHORA (5356): “Connected with phtheiro, signifies “a bringing or being brought into an inferior or worse condition, a destruction or corruption.” By metonymy, of anything which is liable to “corruption,” 1 Cor. 15:50 ESV.”[i]
Worse condition.
Perishable items, like a banana, have conditions. At first, the long, yellow fruit looks inviting and delicious, but as time takes its toll, brown spots begin to appear, and the fruit becomes mushy. Over time, perishable items become worse and worse until they disappear.
On our honeymoon, Ron accidentally left a banana on the kitchen counter. When we returned from our weeklong vacation, a slimy black mound covered in fruit flies greeted us.
Unlike the rotten banana, our spiritual body will continue to live long past the time our physical body decays. Placing our faith in Jesus assures us that our “labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58 ESV)
Imperishable works.
Whatever work we do for Jesus will last. Whether driving the kids to activities, cooking meals for the family, creating a welcoming home for all, or holding the door for a stranger, we don’t work in vain if we do it for the Lord.
Some days, following Jesus seems more challenging than others. Doubt creeps into our minds as we question God’s activities. Looking around our world today, we live in a post-Christian nation. People live for themselves, not interested in Jesus. Placing their faith in the perishable, people miss out on God.
The things of this world will pass away, including our physical bodies. Like a rotten banana, decay happens over time. But with Jesus, we become imperishable, our souls tied to His. Life everlasting begins when we place our faith in Christ.
Let go of the perishable things of this world. Focus your heart on Jesus, and work for Him. Love God and others to the best of your ability, knowing you don’t work in vain.
[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 263) Thomas Nelson
