THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - December 6, 2014 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free (Ephesians 6:8). Though we do not serve God in order to get rewards, those who serve God do receive rewards! Jesus mentioned rewards seventeen times, so He does want us to understand that good and faithful Christian service will be rewarded. And Paul does not hesitate to mention that he knows there are crowns given out in heaven to those who have served God faithfully: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them that love his appearing (II Timothy 4:8). It is impossible for Christian service to go unrewarded because of both the laws of God and of the nature of God. Because God is not only just (with regard to His laws) but also gracious (as to His nature), we always get back more than we deserve back from any effort we put toward our Christian lives or service. God, in His spiritual accounting system (Matthew 12:36,18:23; Romans 14:12; Philippians 4:17, etc.) is perfectly fair and just in whatever manner He chooses to reward His servants whether that is in this life or the next. He always balances His books! But, because of His amazing grace, the rewards of following and serving Him are out of all proportion to anything which we actually deserve. Consider, first of all, our salvation. That is a pure gift and is not related to anything that we have done, yet we receive Jesus Christ, heaven, and everlasting life! Think of it! Christ lives a perfect life while we live sinful lives. He dies, but we receive eternal life. Our sins go onto His account, while His righteousness is reckoned to our account without works (Romans 4:6). We have done nothing, yet we receive everything. Now that is crazy accounting! So we are, at the outset of our Christian lives (simply because God loves us and is unspeakably gracious toward us), winners of a prize incalculably magnificent and valuable beyond all imagination - all because we have simply trusted in Christ! No one, arriving in heaven, will ever say that God has treated them unfairly, for the only unfairness in God is that He has treated us infinitely better than we deserve! What, exactly, todays verse means we cannot possibly know for sure. Is it rewards in this life, the next life, or both? Probably, all of the above. But, what we can be certain of is that no good deed which a servant of Christ ever does, even that of giving someone a cup of cold water (Matthew 10:42), will go unrewarded and the benefits of living the Christian life are out of this world! Be encouraged, faithful servants forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not vain in the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58)! Wherever you are and in whatever form of service, employment, or ministry to which He has called you, be faithful and do it as unto the Lord. Your works are known in heaven (Revelation 2:2), God knows the things that you are going through and going without (Revelation 2:9), and your love, service, faith and patience not unnoticed (Revelation 2:19).They are all seen by heavenly eyes! It will all come back to you someday, and you will not disappointed!
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 12:47:17 +0000
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