Category: Reward

God has promised a crown of life to those who obey Him. “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

There are number of references to that crown, with it described as:

• An imperishable crown(1 Corinthians 9:25)
• A crown of joy/rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
• A crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4)

In the passage from Revelation 2:10, there is the implication that our crown may be taken away. Thus, the exhortation, “Be faithful until death.” May we all run the race of life in such a way as to obtain the “imperishable crown” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).

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“The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad!” (Psalm 97:1).

There is good cause for rejoicing in the realization that the Lord reigns over our world. The Psalmist expresses the greatness of that reign by writing, “His lightnings light the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth” (4-5). We rejoice not only because of His power, but also because, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne” (2).

God is all powerful, and wholly good. He is beneficent, and those who belong to Him will be protected. “You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; he delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart” (10-11).

It is important to note the contrast between those who belong to Him (His saints) and the wicked. It is not possible to rightly claim to be His if our lives are characterized by sin. “Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him” (1 John 3:6).

We have the wondrous promise that God will reward the righteous. The Psalmist concludes, “Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His name” (12). All praise to the Almighty!

Debbie and I are in the process of shopping for a new mattress. Our old one is wearing out, and making it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. A few hours in the bed leads to aches and pains.

Of course, I see little children sleeping in such contorted poses, and wonder how they could possibly move when they wake up — positions I can’t even get into, and that if I tried would probably necessitate a month of traction. So, it may be that it is less the mattress wearing out, and more an indication that my body has seen better days!

The scriptures use both realities — that possessions and bodies wear out — to teach a lesson about eternity.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven” (2 Corinthians 5:1-2)

Put simply, this life is all temporary. Possessions and bodies are not designed to last. Eternity is reserved for the transformed spiritual bodies promised to the faithful, (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58). Praise be to God for the promise of eternal life!
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Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

In Colossians 3:1, Paul introduces an “if/then” statement which establishes two things. If you were raised with Christ, you have an obligation to serve Him, and you have the hope of reward for such service.

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Numerous passages in both the Old and New Testaments establish for us the rewards we will receive for our faithfulness in standing with God.

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What is the value in following Jesus? The Bible clearly reveals that His disciples must give themselves over completely in servitude to Christ as their Lord. It is worth the sacrifice?

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2 Thessalonians 1:3-10

A common circumstance of Christians in the first century was the suffering of persecution for the kingdom’s sake. Paul referred in this text to the “persecutions and tribulations” that the Thessalonians had endured.

He commended them for their perseverance, and promised them that God would “give you who are troubled rest” at the Advent of Christ.

The reason for the promise is the character of Almighty God. “It is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble” His children, and to give His children rest “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels” (cf. vs. 6-7).

Because of who God is (His person and character) we can be assured that he will treat us fairly in judgment. That is a reason for the ungodly to fear, but it is a basis for our hope and comfort as we live righteously in His service.

AOTS Number 56

Too many who claim to believe in and know God allow themselves to become distracted by life, instead of winning life’s race.

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False teachers and others who would influence you to sin can take your crown from you (cf. Revelation 3:11), but only if you let them.

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AOTS Number 37

Because the hope we have in Christ does not depend upon self, there is no reason for the Christian to be a pessimist.

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Lesson based on text in 2 Peter 1:3-4. God promises us to forget our sinful past, to help us resist and overcome temptation, to hear our prayerful petitions and to grant us an eternal inheritance through His son Jesus.

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In his epistle to the Philippians, the apostle Paul expressed his attitude toward his service to Christ. Simply put, he wasn’t about to “count his chickens before they hatched.” In his own words, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

The reason for this single-minded approach in his service to the Lord is stated in the preceding verses, “that I may gain Christ, and be found in him” (vs. 8b-9a). Further, he longed for the result of such a fellowship with his Lord, “if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection of the dead” (vs. 11).

Continue reading ““I Press Toward the Goal”” →

The Bible is very clear concerning allegiances. Either one is for God or against God. This not only defines ones association, but also his eternal standing. The friend, servant, wise, who gives allegiance to God is saved; the enemy, foolish individual is lost.

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If we show proper respect and deference to God, (seen primarily in our obedience to His laws), we will be rewarded with His favor. (cf. Deuteronomy 10:12-22).

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