All tagged Reward

Do we proudly walk in our faith? Do we claim that our righteousness has made us more worthy than others to receive God’s reward, and to be blessed by Him? No, the truth is that all we are, and everything we might have, has sprung from the grace of God. The story of the Apostle Paul teaches us this more than any other story in the Bible. Paul, a tormenter, and killer of Christians was given the mission to preach the unsearchable riches of the very man he detested and whose followers he had been putting to death... Jesus Christ.

Faith, it is not visible except in the works that are created by it. Is it possible to love without expressing that love in some tangible manner; a hug, a kiss, a marriage? No, love drives us to show it to one another, and faith is the same. When we have faith in Jesus, and God, we have no option but to show it to them in some manner. What is very interesting is that doing works of faith usually involves loving or doing something good, or merciful, for another person. We express our love for God by allowing Him to see our hearts, but we show our faith in Him by our obedience to his will... by our works. 

Are we merciful to others? Do we give of ourselves, and our bounty, when it would be easier to take? Sometimes we hold back out of laziness, sometimes stinginess, and others out of selfishness; we can find many reasons not to give, but when we do it rewards us immensely. We are increased spiritually, physically, and in such things as joy, happiness, and peace of mind. By giving we provide a blessing to others, but God works a great miracle within us.

Do we obey God to the letter, or do we take His commandments and rationalize them, or apply our own judgement to them? Do we use our own logic in determining that we should obey Him in one circumstance but not in another? If so then, although we try to convince ourselves to the contrary, we are placing ourselves above God. The little things, or uncomfortable ones, can be our undoing. Obey God in all things and always.

With lifestyles and medical care improving, our lifespans are also increasing, but a long life doesn’t necessarily mean a good life. Some reach their older years and look back with regret, some look at the lives they are living now and ask why they are sick, or dying, and others are even tempted by Satan to abandon their faith and enjoy worldly pleasures in the years they have. But what does God want for us, and what does the Bible say about aging?

You have professed your faith in God, and accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, but now you are asking yourself... “what is the Holy Spirit, will I receive it, and how will I know when I do?” Let’s explore the breath of Jesus and the Spirit He breathes onto us. Let’s ask our Lord to give us His comforter, and teacher to be with us as we journey, and to provided us through His Spirit those things we need along the way.