The Reward

"So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." Heb. 11:6

Generally speaking, being rewarded is a wonderful experience. "Great job! Here is your bonus." "Thanks mom. Thanks dad. I know it hasn't been easy, but you were and are great parents." "Kids, you did it! We're off to Disney World!!" "Honey, I'd marry you all over again. You are simply the best." Rewards motivate. Rewards encourage. They remind us that all the sacrifice was worth it.

God thinks about rewards too. Here in our verse for the day, he tells us that he has a reward for those who seek him. Wow! Imagine that. What reward could God give that in any way, shape, or form speaks to his grandeur, his majesty, and to his glory? The prophet Jeremiah provides us with some insights regarding the answer to that question. "'You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord." The reward? In a word ... God. Nothing else would be sufficient or worthy enough to be identified as the reward, God's reward.

There are plenty of options available to us on the "things to seek" list. Some are even good things. Answers? Healing? Significance? Money? Positions? Relationships? Possessions? Justice? Applause? Employment? Security? ... The question begs to be asked. Which of these, or anything else that we can think of to seek, will result in a reward that surpasses God himself?

Grace and Peace,

Tom

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tested

"He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do." John 6:1-13 Test day. I remember all too well the feelings of discomfort connected to that expression from my school days. I was so thankful the last time I had to take one. Tests felt so much like a cruel game of, "Guess What I'm Thinking?" with the author of the test. During one particularly grueling test, I noticed one of my classmates cheating like there was no tomorrow. Predictably, he aced it and I let's just say, didn't. It occurred to me later that I was actually being tested in two different ways that day. By God's grace alone, I passed them both. Philip was in the hot seat that day. Jesus, out of the twelve disciples, decided to single him out for testing. From all appearances, there was a massive resource shortage. Five thousand men plus women and children all hungry up against whatever money Judas had in the money bag. Philip was apparently incredulous as he emphaticall
Read more

Nothing Left

"'What do you mean what's the matter?' Micah replied. 'You've taken away all the gods I have made, and my priest, and I have nothing left!" Judges 17, 18 Unaware of some purchases that my wife had made earlier in the day, I didn't even hesitate to use my debit card at the checkout line. However, our bank was fully aware of all those purchases as well as the one I was attempting to make at the present moment. Clearly, the math didn't add up. Something from nothing is something less than nothing and that, as it turns, is frowned upon by our aforementioned bank. In short, the bank told the merchant there was nothing left and the merchant told me, "Declined." Micah was one panicked individual. His personal little self-directed and self-centered religion was coming apart at the seams. He had idols. He had priests. He had a shrine and even a sacred ephod (a priestly garment). All this, he thought, secured the LORD's blessing. When the warri
Read more

Who is Jesus?

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:15, 16 NIV) What are your thoughts about Jesus? Every major religion on earth has an opinion on who he was. Mostly they say that he was a good man, a powerful teacher, and a peacemaker. All of that is true. But what about him being the Son of God? Peter, after being with Jesus non-stop for 4 years was confident of his identity. He was assured that Jesus was God in the flesh, the Messiah that was to come. You essentially have three options when it comes to what you believe about Jesus: 1) He was a Liar 2) He was a Lunatic (out of his mind) 3) Or that He was Lord If he was, and is, Lord, then he deserves our worship and our entire lives. If Jesus is Lord, it is true that we have access to God by His sacrifice on the cross. Join us Friday night at 7, as we reflect on Jesus going to the cross for the sins of the entire world (Good Frida
Read more