Hebrews 6:10-12 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁰ For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. ¹¹ And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, ¹² so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Yesterday’s closing question was difficult. Regarding rewards, allow me to continue with this; promises are an inheritance. In this case the promises of God are towards all mankind. Good promises to members of his family through grace and mercy. For those that rejected Christ’s freewill offering, not so much.

While verse 10 implies God will reward good works in must be noted that it is love shown which glorifies Jesus Christ that is right and acceptable. While we have been over the characteristics of love in 1 Corinthians 13 many times, let it be known it is agape love. God’s perfect love cannot be duplicated in the flesh. Try as we might we cannot match His perfect love.

The whole issue of letting our “little light shine” is about allowing the love of Christ that dwells in us out. He is love and desires to love and the only thing stopping Him from doing that is our flesh. Our worries, anxieties, fears, wants and desires are counterproductive to the love of God. He loves us and will work in us before He will work through us.

Galatians 5:16-17 English Standard Version (ESV)

Keep in Step with the Spirit

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

That is assuming that we want to love Christ. A word from our Lord today.

“Is my love enough for you to want to live?”

Hebrews 11:6 English Standard Version (ESV) And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Who expects a reward for faithfulness? Is that biblical? If not based on the promises of God, what then? When God makes a promise, He will keep it. When we hope for a reward that is not based on God’s word we have developed an unrealistic expectation. Disappointment is sure to follow.

More than just a human hope, we begin to allow a reward to be the reason for service. Love should be the only motivation for service and its own reward. So what are these rewards spoken of by the author of Hebrews? We may find them in two areas of our lives, grace and growth.

Unmerited favor manifests itself in the way we are treated. We are no longer strangers alienated from God. Grace finds its way into our lives by the will of God without respect of service. Growth however comes by living this life by faith and seeking God in every aspect of relationship. Prayer, studies, meditation and fellowship require us to be participants. Without it, we stagnate and there is no growth.

How does growth play into the reward factor? Let us take a lesson out of our lives. When we are children we are protected from harm and are not allowed to engage in certain activities until our bodies grow to a level of maturity that allows participation. Age limits are set for joining little league baseball is one example. It is not that much different in kingdom living.

Do we see being matured in Christ as a reward? Do we see serving God in ministry as a reward? Do we see knowing God more intimately as a reward?

If not, why not?