Believing in His Gracious Rewards
Luke 6:27-28
…but I say unto you which hear, love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”
For those who, at some point in their lives, received an honor or an award they thought they did not deserve, they will likely have a special understanding of grace. For example, if given an unearned passing grade for a test we actually failed, we would understand unmerited rewards. The prompting of the Lord to forgive those who sin against us (though it may seem undeserved), is a call to grace. This grace is also tied to forgiveness for our sins. God so loved this sin-filled world He could not naturally co-exist in/with, so He established a spiritual zone called grace so our fellowship with Him could continue.
Romans 5:20-21
Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Some rewards are granted during our lives and others for eternity. The gracious rewards for our lives today, could account for every second God allows us to live and breathe, and not be immediately stricken for our sins. The Gospel of Luke addresses our future rewards in this way:
Luke 6:23
“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.”
Believing in His grace will be key to removing one of those self-imposed barriers to our gracious rewards: doubt. When we ask for God’s forgiveness, mercy and grace, we must believe “…He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Seeing His amazingly gracious rewards (like wisdom) requires high faith and low doubt. James noted,
James 1:5-6
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
The single greatest and most gracious reward is salvation. Knowing that our names are written in the Lambs Book of Life is the single most liberating gift our Heavenly Father could grant us. We truly do not deserve life, but thanks be to God, we all can celebrate true liberty in Him!
Messages
2nd Celebrating Real Liberty (John 8:36)
9th The Space for Grace (Ephesians 4:32 & Proverbs 11:24-25)
16th Sharing in His Rewards (Hebrews 13:16 & Philippians 2:3-4)
23rd Releasing the Anointing of Grace (Colossians 4:6)
30th Celebrating Faith, Family, & Fellowship (NHF Special Events)
