Bible Ballistics: BBs #455    Reward Offered???

 

“And, behold,

I come quickly;

and my reward is with me,

to give every man

according as his work shall be.

13 I am Alpha and Omega,

the beginning

and the end,

the first

and the last.” Revelation 22:12-13

As Jesus finished the “Revelation” which He gave to John, He reminds us all that there are rewards. Throughout scripture we see that all will “give an account” before The God of God’s, and Lord of Lord’s—our soon coming King of King’s, Jesus!

“And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh

a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:16

Our wonderful Lord Jesus is coming again, and makes it clear that “my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be”. We need to heed His words, and our ways, even as God reminds us through the Prophet Haggai:

“Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts;

Consider your ways.

6 Ye have sown much,

and bring in little;

ye eat,

but ye have not enough;

ye drink,

but ye are not filled with drink;

ye clothe you,

but there is none warm;

and he that earneth wages

earneth wages

to put it into a bag with holes.

7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts;

Consider your ways.” Haggai 1:5-7

God reminded those who had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon to rebuild the Temple, to “consider” why they were encountering such difficulty! And told them that they had done “their work” and left “His work” undone, therefore He was causing their wheels to spin (Blanche’s paraphrase!). God called them, as He still calls us, to “consider” our ways and see if they align with HIS way! Who are we serving? Are we serving God or self? Whom we choose to serve will be reflect our affections. Do we love God, and others before ourselves? Or are we primarily focused on meeting our own needs first? The answer matters, and God knows the true answer, even if you’ve been lying to yourself.

When we belong to Jesus, our lives are to be a reflection of His glory, and be a ministry of His grace and truth to a lost and dying world. Are we working for and in Him or something else? Are we following the example and leadership of our Lord and His indwelling Holy Spirit, whom He has given to us? Are we doing HIS work? And before you answer quickly, remember that His work, is Spirit led, Spirit filled, and Spirit directed—only done by keeping our eyes on Jesus, and following His lead (See Heb. 12:1-3+)!

“In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 32 But he said unto them,

I have meat to eat

that ye know not of.

33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 34 Jesus saith unto them,

My meat is to do the will

of him

that sent me,

and to finish his work.

35 Say not ye,

There are yet four months,

and then cometh harvest?

behold, I say unto you,

Lift up your eyes,

and look on the fields;

for they are white already

to harvest.

36 And he that reapeth

receiveth wages,

and gathereth fruit

unto life eternal:

that both he that soweth

and he that reapeth

may rejoice together.” John 4:31-36

God’s work IS the work that we are called to do, “he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (See Hebrews 11:1-6), and our motivation comes from whose we are—for Jesus makes it clear, “without me you can do nothing” (See John 15:1-5)

And in closing, Paul reminds us that our works come out of our relationship to God, and the work of HIS Spirit; our own “works” will never bring us into relationship with God!

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them.” Eph. 2:8-10