Hey yall! Welcome to the last day , day 5- in our series The Promise of God to live a set apart life.
The Topic today is the Promise of Reward.
Today we will explore the rewards that God has promised to every believer.
It's an exciting subject meant to encourage you to keep walking the narrow path and to look forward to knowing our works for the Lord will and do follow us into eternity.
Do you remember being in school, looking forward to the end of school reward day ceremony? You could always tell who was excited and the students that didn't care for it.
The excited kids were so excited because they knew they had worked hard thru out the year-whether that was academically or physically in athletics. They were ready to receive acknowledgment and for everyone to see what they had accomplished. Those who weren't excited knew that they maybe just flew under the radar, just went thru the motions of showing up or maybe they weren't sure if they had even passed their grade to go on to the next level. Yes, reward day was always intriguing for me.
We can compare this to the Christian life as we see ourselves and others go thru it. We see some Christians diligently working for the Lord in various ministries and ways. We see others who just show up on Sundays, go thru the motions but don't seem to generate any excitement in living the set apart life. Then we see some who bear the name of Christian, but we don't see any tangible fruit at all, though we can't judge their heart to see if they believe what they really say they believe. The bible has plenty to say about how we live and the reward laid up for the Christian. There are several different types of rewards and crowns promised to the believer!
Jesus said in Matthew 5:12 when the believer faces persecution "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Jesus even says when we have stewarded well the things He has given us here that we will be set over even more in eternity in Matthew 25:21, He says "His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master."
Some of the various crowns the bible mentions are:
-The Crown of Life
The Crown of Righteousness
The Incorruptible Crown
-The Crown of Glory
-The Crown of Exultation, which are rewards for faithfulness in life
-The Crown of Rejoicing
-The Crown of the Soul-Winner
-The Crown of Righteousness
-The Crown of Life
-The Crown of Incorruption
-The Crown of Glory
I encourage you as some homework to do a quick google search to see where these crowns are mentioned in scripture for further study!
But an even greater challenge I have for you is to look thru this list. Do any of these crowns stand out to you the most? Meaning, do you see yourself receiving any of these from Jesus?
Are you faithful? Are you a soul-winner and share the gospel? Do you know anyone who was actually persecuted to the point of death and will receive the Crown of Life ?
I get excited just thinking about this!
But even more interesting is that unlike reward day in school, where the receiver gets all the accolades and attention for receiving a reward, the bible shows that us as Believers will receive these rewards just to place them back at the feet of Jesus!
Revelation 4:10 states, " The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
Most theologians believe the 24 elders represent the 12 disciples or the 12 tribes of Israel or us the Church/Bride of Christ. I personally believe they represent us the Church for the simple fact they are dressed in white robes and they are seated on thrones, which are all things promised to the believer- to reign and rule with Christ. Whichever interpretation you yield to- it still shows that even with our rewards, we will recognize that it is God that is worshipped and given all praise because Christ redeemed us back to the Father and we will get to spend eternity in their presence free from the stain of any and all sin.
What a vision we see here that John describes!
I want us to be encouraged to walk out our faith and Christian life- no matter how hard it gets. We should remember that we are not walking thru it alone. The Holy Spirit is with us, Jesus is interceding for us at the right hand of the Father, and the Father loves us!
Jesus gives us encouraging words in Revelation 22:12, "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done."
And in the words of Peter in Peter 5:4 "And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory."
When you are having those days when you are ready to give up, go back and study what the word says about rewards and what Believers have to look forward to when Christ appears.
We will appear at the Bema Judgement seat of Christ- not to determine if we are going to heaven, but to have our works examined and receive whatever reward or treasure and crown Jesus has stored for us.
Run this race with expectancy, with tenacity and with courage.
I want to see all those who lost their life on this side receive their Crown of life!
I want to see the Christian Missionaries who left all of life's comfort to go spread the gospel receive their Soul Winners Crown.
And I want to see YOU receive your Crown of Glory or Righteousness or whatever Crown you receive for your faithfulness and works!
And lastly, I want to see us ALL lay our crowns back down at the feet of Jesus our Savior as we praise His Majesty forever and ever.
It's gonna be the biggest reward show ever!!
Whew! I can only imagine....
Thanks for reading this series, I pray you were encouraged and challenged.
Until next time, keep shining and stay in the race!
Kee Isadore
Scriptures for Meditation:
1 Thessalonians 2:19-For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
1 Cor. 9:25-Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
Revelation. 3:11- I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
Philippians 3:14 -I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
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