I was thinking today how it is good to think in terms of 'a career'. At some point we must make the transition of thinking moment to moment and start thinking long term. This applies to work but it also applies to our spiritual lives.
"Thus it is written, 'The first man Adam became a living being'; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual." - 1 Corinthians 15:45-46 ESV
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." - 1 Corinthians 15:22 KJV
Adam lived but in the end he was known for his failure. Just being alive will not be praiseworthy when we stand before God. Jesus had a calling. He was and Is a quickener. God is very happy with His Son and in Him we find our calling. We have a life through Adam but Jesus gives us a ministry.
"Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election" - 2 Peter 1:10a ESV
We don't have any say in our election. Nor do we have much say in some of the circumstances we find ourselves in. It is good to be sure about why we are in our present circumstances. We are here because God has us here. We are here as called ones. Circumstances are not just things to survive they are stepping stones on a career of faith.
"Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God." - 1 Corinthians 4:5 ESV
Everyone who believes will have praise from God. Anyone who continues believing will have a long list of things for God to commend. It is not our works but our life of faith that is given as a gift from God.
"Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;" - Romans 14:10 ESV
God's judgement seat is a reward seat. God will reward us and he will reward those around us who have believed. I want to cheer for you when you stand there and not be ashamed because I operated as a judge when I should have been a friend.
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." - 2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV
Good here is Agathos (Strong's G18) which means agreeably, useful or lovely and evil is Phaulos (Strong's G5337) which speaks of easy, worthless or something of no account. A believers judgement will be about useful and not useful.
God is going to deal with our career on that day. It won't be about our self life it will be about our career. A professional makes career oriented decisions. Good or bad is useful or not useful. That is how I want to think. What will be useful when I eventually stand before God?
Men are often not known for the little things they do day to day. History records important moments when people made crucial decisions. Those decisions are often not easy ones. A career of faith prepares us to make useful choices in those crucial moments.
It gives new meaning to the common question, 'So what do you do for a living?'
We can say with confidence that we are more than just alive. Believers have careers of faith.
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Showing posts with label Reward. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reward. Show all posts
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
When I Don't Feel Like It
Reading, thinking and praying this morning. Praying for people and situations. Praying for Nepal and Baltimore. Praying also for places I have visited over the years... Upstate New York... Montreal... Pittsburgh... Des Moines... Omaha... Indianapolis... Cincinnati... St Pete... Miami... Boston... Salem... Then reading some more and praying some more.
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience." - 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 ESV
"Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.' " - Luke 17:9-10 ESV
Sometimes when I don't feel well I start to think, 'Will this be my excuse? Will I stop being creative? Will grace be just for me and will I just let everyone fend for themselves?'
It is very possible that we could slip into unprofitable servant mode when really we are sons and daughters. We are not hirelings just in it for the payoff. Believers believe and are invested in God's kingdom because they have been brought into the family. Our Father has a vision and a plan and we come under that vision and make it our vision.
When I don't feel well I don't want to do what I usually want to do. I don't feel like wanting to extend myself. Maybe it's good that some feeling are at a low ebb because now I can choose by principle and not by passion. Now in this state I can make a faith decision.
So, I pray and think and read. I let the water of the Word of God wash over me. I tell my soul to rejoice. More seems impossible to me so I pray for the impossible. God can do the impossible.
Grace is known to my conscience... not just right and wrong... grace. Grace motivates me. Grace tells me I don't have to work to be accepted. I am accepted right now. It also tells me I don't have to wallow in my weakness.
"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." - Romans 8:11-14 ESV
I don't live in debt to God or to my body. God has made me a son and I take on the role of a servant because that is what a son does when visitors come to the house. He serves them. He becomes a representation of the Father's hospitality.
The judgement seat of Christ will not be about the contents of our thoughts. It is a reward seat and only rewards will be handed out. Those rewards are going to be based on faith decisions that resulted in faith actions.
Places need Jesus. People need Jesus. If I have visited or heard of a place then I can pray for that place. If I know about a situation then what will I do with that knowledge? Perhaps God is not leading me to go there or do anything else but pray. I want to be led by God. Many times it has been in times of prayer that I have been led to act. I want to be available to that.
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"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience." - 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 ESV
"Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.' " - Luke 17:9-10 ESV
Sometimes when I don't feel well I start to think, 'Will this be my excuse? Will I stop being creative? Will grace be just for me and will I just let everyone fend for themselves?'
It is very possible that we could slip into unprofitable servant mode when really we are sons and daughters. We are not hirelings just in it for the payoff. Believers believe and are invested in God's kingdom because they have been brought into the family. Our Father has a vision and a plan and we come under that vision and make it our vision.
When I don't feel well I don't want to do what I usually want to do. I don't feel like wanting to extend myself. Maybe it's good that some feeling are at a low ebb because now I can choose by principle and not by passion. Now in this state I can make a faith decision.
So, I pray and think and read. I let the water of the Word of God wash over me. I tell my soul to rejoice. More seems impossible to me so I pray for the impossible. God can do the impossible.
Grace is known to my conscience... not just right and wrong... grace. Grace motivates me. Grace tells me I don't have to work to be accepted. I am accepted right now. It also tells me I don't have to wallow in my weakness.
"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." - Romans 8:11-14 ESV
I don't live in debt to God or to my body. God has made me a son and I take on the role of a servant because that is what a son does when visitors come to the house. He serves them. He becomes a representation of the Father's hospitality.
The judgement seat of Christ will not be about the contents of our thoughts. It is a reward seat and only rewards will be handed out. Those rewards are going to be based on faith decisions that resulted in faith actions.
Places need Jesus. People need Jesus. If I have visited or heard of a place then I can pray for that place. If I know about a situation then what will I do with that knowledge? Perhaps God is not leading me to go there or do anything else but pray. I want to be led by God. Many times it has been in times of prayer that I have been led to act. I want to be available to that.
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Saturday, January 11, 2014
Recompence Of Reward
"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward" Hebrews 10:35 KJV
What has value? Where is the great reward? It depends on our value system doesn't it. If we value money then riches are a good reward. If it is honor then honor is good. Maybe it is social change... or the future generation. All those things have value.
In the grace economy faith is the thing that leverages future rewards. The justified person must live in and by faith. A choice is made to invest. There is some dotted line we mentally sign. It is an investment that may often be misunderstood by others but the payoff will come one day.
Faith can be like a retirement fund, a spiritual 401K.. we can't spend it now but the reward will be there later.
I spent a lot of mental time praying for people and thinking about situations today... some situations are ones that I can participate in and others are far from my reach... I can't make decisions for people but I can love, pray, believe and help in different ways as God gives ability and opportunity.
Does that kind of faith have value? I believe it does and because of that I can rest in the knowledge that God is moving and will move.
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What has value? Where is the great reward? It depends on our value system doesn't it. If we value money then riches are a good reward. If it is honor then honor is good. Maybe it is social change... or the future generation. All those things have value.
In the grace economy faith is the thing that leverages future rewards. The justified person must live in and by faith. A choice is made to invest. There is some dotted line we mentally sign. It is an investment that may often be misunderstood by others but the payoff will come one day.
Faith can be like a retirement fund, a spiritual 401K.. we can't spend it now but the reward will be there later.
I spent a lot of mental time praying for people and thinking about situations today... some situations are ones that I can participate in and others are far from my reach... I can't make decisions for people but I can love, pray, believe and help in different ways as God gives ability and opportunity.
Does that kind of faith have value? I believe it does and because of that I can rest in the knowledge that God is moving and will move.
--
Friday, April 5, 2013
The Prize
This topic came up last night at Panera bread. What is the reward of living a spiritual life? Paul says,
"What then is my reward?" 1 Cor 9:18a ESV
To the intelectual crowd it might be knowledge. To the prosperity crowd gain or abundance. Those with a bad self image is might be change. To the sick it could be health. To the hopeless it might be a new start. The fallen world provides many motivators but does the end result and purpose of our life reside in anything fallen?
"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith - that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." Phil 3:8-12 ESV
Innocence is what was lost in the garden and intimacy was what was won and Calvary and bestowed to us at Pentecost. Grace and mercy flow to us from God unhindered and the prize is living in that flow.
But there is more.
"To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings." 1 Cor 9:20-23 ESV
The soul winner sees people as the prize. People who have communion with God restored. Fellowship made possible by association with believing people.
I could study all the time and gain knowledge but would that be a substitute for people? Would I trade prosperity... health... reputation... for people.
What is our prize today?
"God answered Solomon, 'Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.' " 2 Cron 1:11-12 ESV
If we ask for wisdom to share with people in the blessing of the Gospel isn't our God Solomon's God? God may just add all kinds of other good things we aren't even seeking anymore because of His great goodness. Who knows?
"What then is my reward?" 1 Cor 9:18a ESV
To the intelectual crowd it might be knowledge. To the prosperity crowd gain or abundance. Those with a bad self image is might be change. To the sick it could be health. To the hopeless it might be a new start. The fallen world provides many motivators but does the end result and purpose of our life reside in anything fallen?
"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith - that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." Phil 3:8-12 ESV
Innocence is what was lost in the garden and intimacy was what was won and Calvary and bestowed to us at Pentecost. Grace and mercy flow to us from God unhindered and the prize is living in that flow.
But there is more.
"To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings." 1 Cor 9:20-23 ESV
The soul winner sees people as the prize. People who have communion with God restored. Fellowship made possible by association with believing people.
I could study all the time and gain knowledge but would that be a substitute for people? Would I trade prosperity... health... reputation... for people.
What is our prize today?
"God answered Solomon, 'Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.' " 2 Cron 1:11-12 ESV
If we ask for wisdom to share with people in the blessing of the Gospel isn't our God Solomon's God? God may just add all kinds of other good things we aren't even seeking anymore because of His great goodness. Who knows?
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