Tag: Rewards

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Hard Labor

OCTOBER 25

MATTHEW 7:13_and many there be which go in thereat.

There are reasons many enter at the wide gate: tempting, accessible, and allows for baggage. It’s easy—all you have to do is follow the crowd, which requires neither intelligence (no decisions to make), nor courage (won’t be standing alone). 

It takes little strength to do what’s wrong: just follow your natural instincts. There is no submission to rules or regulations: simply do what pleases you, and what pleases the people with you. There is no accountability for your actions: personal responsibility will not be following you around. In short: No rules, No standards, No boundaries. Sounds exactly like the Land of Cocagne in the story of Pinocchio. 

Pinocchio made the decision to become responsible and obedient. There was a reward for that: he would become a real boy. But when his friend, Candlewick, described the carefree land of excessive pleasures, the temptation was too strong (for a heart without Jesus). Rather than becoming a real boy, he became a real donkey—and all the hard labor that goes with it.

In The Merchant of Venice, 1600, Shakespeare said it like this, “All that glitters is not gold.”

Very seldom is the easy way the best way.

PRAYER

Merciful Jesus, Help me follow Your way—not the easy way. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.        

Christ wants me to be bold and courageous—I will be!

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Pray for the Fathers

OCTOBER 7

MATTHEW 7:9_Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask…

To become a parent rates very high in the blessing category.

Psalm 127:3-5 (KJV), “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.” 

According to this verse, children are one way God rewards His people. Arrows in the hand of a mighty man are powerful. If hunting is the goal, then the bow is no good without the arrows. The arrows are everything to achieving the purpose of the hunt. Fathers should realize the reward God gives them in children. They should feel strength and might in fatherhood. They should feel happy. 

I wish these verses were true in the life of every child born. However, since they are not, I pray for Malachi 4:6 (KJV) to become a reality: “And he [Elijah the prophet] shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers …”

As much as is possible in my tiny space in the world, I want to contribute to this becoming reality.

Pray for the fathers in your circle of life.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, Help me feel the specialness that is mine as Your child. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ teaches children are a reward—I am one!

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Jesus Lures

AUGUST 27

MATTHEW 6:33_and his righteousness…

Jesus gives you something specific to seek in the kingdom of God: righteousness. God’s righteousness is to obey His principles and live in them.

When you seek God’s kingdom you discover His righteousness. One more example of you can’t have one without the other. You are designed to seek that relationship. Jesus lures you to it.

This relationship has been compared to courtship. Jesus proposes—He hopes you will say yes. If you do, then just like finding gold at the end of the rainbow—you find His righteousness. Notice, the seeking turned from Jesus seeking you to you seeking Him—and His righteousness.

God’s principles are steadfast. They have been since the beginning of time. They do not weaken or fade with time. They are as solid in the book of Genesis as they are in the book of Revelation. They are foundation material—something on which to build your life. 

Deuteronomy 33:27 (KJV), “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms …”

Wow! The everlasting arms are the foundation material upon which to build your house!

Righteousness is something God rewards, II Samuel 22:21 (KJV) “The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness ….”

You can’t be righteous on your own—seek God’s righteousness!

PRAYER

Righteous Father, I want Your righteousness for the foundation of my life. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ is righteousness—He will teach me!

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By Virtue of Being God

AUGUST 24

MATTHEW 6:32_for your heavenly Father knoweth ye  have need of these things.

If you have a pet, you are responsible for its care. You feed it. You water it. You wash and groom it. When necessary, you clean up after it. You train it in right and wrong. In the training process you have a way of discipline, and a way of rewarding.

What is the connecting thread for caring for your pet? Needs. Your pet comes with needs. It depends upon you to meet those needs. It is a pretty sorry owner who neglects the needs of a pet! The owner knows all these needs simply by virtue of being an owner.

Jesus taught us the depth of this concept when He referred to Himself as a shepherd and His followers as sheep. John 10:27-28 (KJV), “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” The sheep become acquainted with the voice of the shepherd because of his constant care for them. The Good Shepherd knows our spiritual need, “28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

Our Heavenly Father knows all our needs simply by virtue of being God.

PRAYER

Good Shepherd, Help me be aware of Your care for me, and know Your voice. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ wants me to know His voice—I will listen!

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Faith!

AUGUST 4

MATTHEW 6:27_Which of you by taking thought…

If you find a basic truth in the Bible, keep rehearsing it. Get the truth into your heart. The truth will eventually overpower worry. This is called meditation. 

Meditation works like worry only with positive results. Rehearse the truth over and over in your heart.  Seek the wisdom of the Bible and apply it to your problem. Ask God for insight, wait for it to come.

Hebrews chapter 11 (KJV) is known as the faith chapter.  There is one person included in this chapter who has a very small part in the Bible, but something extraordinary happened to him, “5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”

Enoch was translated from earth to heaven without ever dying! All that was really said about Enoch was “he pleased God.” This leads to, “6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  

The answer to overcoming worry? Faith!

PRAYER

God in Whom I Trust, Increase my faith that I may please You. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ wants to increase my faith—I will let Him!