GOD REWARDS OUR FAITHFULNESS

TEXT: 1CORINTHIANS 15:58

Each of us has a unique purpose in life, and we are all to do something to further God’s kingdom. God rewards us according to our faithfulness to the task, not the size of the task. Maybe you are ministering in obscurity. You are doing things nobody else knows you are doing to further the kingdom of God. Others may not know about you, but God sees what you are doing, and one day, He is going to reward you. The writer of Hebrews said in Hebrews 6:10, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.” It is not the size of the task we have, it is not whether we minister in the limelight or behind the scenes–it is our faithfulness to the task that God rewards. Everything you do for Christ is recorded, and He does not cast a blind eye to it. He will reward you for your faithfulness. There are days in all of our lives when we wonder if the works we do really matter. We wonder if God notices the small things, the sacrificial things, and the ways that we serve Him that are difficult. God is paying attention, and He is taking note, not to count your good works unto salvation, because good works can in no way save anyone, but He is paying attention, taking note and will not forget to thank and reward you when you see Him in heaven. The reward from God to His faithful children is unique, and like many spiritual things, may be beyond our finite understanding. Human language is inadequate to describe the reward of the righteous. It will be known only to those who behold it. No finite mind can comprehend the glory of the Paradise of God. Jesus concluded the Beatitudes, which open the Sermon on the Mount, with these words: Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you- Matt. 5:11-12. Being rewarded for faithfulness, however, is not the same as salvation by works. Who amongst us, or among any of the characters in the Bible, had works good enough to give them any merit before God? None, of course. That is the whole point of the cross. If we could have saved ourselves by works, Jesus never would have gone to the cross. Instead, it must be by grace. “And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise, grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work” Rom. 11:6. Rewards, instead, are the mere outworking of what God has done for us and in us.

DESIRE FOR BEAUTY

TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18

Beauty has a way of capturing our affections: my beautiful wife, my beautiful car, my beautiful children, and a beautiful memory. Creation calls out beauty. It is found in the vibrant colours of a sunrise that paints the sky in shades of gold and pink, the gentle rustling of leaves in the wind, and the rhythmic crashing of ocean waves against the shore. The intricate details of a delicate flower, the towering strength of mountains, and the vastness of a starry night sky all invite worship of God in the wonder of His creation. King David desired one thing from the Lord: to leave the riches of his royal palace and enter the holy temple to seek the Lord in His glory and to gaze on His beauty. Beauty is in the eye of the worshipper. When we worship God, we begin to see beauty not just in outward appearances but in the deeper spiritual realities that reflect His character and glory. Our perception of true beauty is transformed when we align our hearts and minds with God’s love for us. When we desire to see divine beauty, we will recognise beauty all around us - a smile, a sunset, a thank you. The beauty of the Lord is not just about what we see; it is who He is. His beauty is reflected in His love, grace, and the way He works in our lives. When we look at a breathtaking sunset or the intricate design of a flower, we catch glimpses of His handiwork, but His beauty goes deeper. It is in His kindness, His mercy, and the peace He brings to our hearts. Psalm 24:7 reminds us to seek His beauty, not just in creation but in His presence. The more we focus on Him, the more we realise that His beauty is not fleeting; it is eternal. And the best part? He invites us to experience it every day. Beauty is all around you to enjoy as a gift from your beautiful Saviour. When you behold the beauty of the Lord, you become a mirror reflection of His beauty. 2 Corinthians 3:18 gives a sneak preview: “We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image.” Your affection for divine beauty invites the Holy Spirit to transform you into beautiful Jesus. The beauty of His love adorns your life. The beauty of His mercy drowns your judgments. The beauty of His humility gives a glow to your countenance. The beauty of His generosity dresses up your deeds. When the Spirit fills us, we are transformed, and by beholding God, we become mirrors. You can always tell when someone has been beholding the glory of the Lord, because your inner spirit senses that he mirrors the Lord’s own character.” How the Holy Spirit transforms your inner spirit is beautiful to see and experience.

THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES

As we explore the vital role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we discover that He is not just a theological concept but a powerful personality that actively engages with us. The Holy Spirit is our Helper, Comforter, and Guide, given to us to empower our journey of faith and to deepen our relationship with God. In John 14:26, Jesus comforts His disciples by promising the arrival of the Holy Spirit. This promise highlights the Spirit’s role in teaching and reminding us of God’s truths. The Holy Spirit helps us comprehend Christ's teachings and assists in applying these lessons in our everyday lives. Essential to our spiritual development, the Holy Spirit illuminates the Scriptures and guides us in discerning God's will. Additionally, Acts 1:8 proclaims, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Here, the empowerment aspect of the Holy Spirit is highlighted. He equips us with the strength to boldly share our faith, serve others, and fulfil the Great Commission. It is through the Holy Spirit that we gain the courage and capability to impact the world for Christ. The role of the Holy Spirit extends beyond teaching and empowerment; He also provides comfort and reassurance. In times of distress, confusion, or sorrow, we can rely on the Spirit to bring peace that surpasses all understanding. He reassures us of God’s love and presence, reminding us that we are never alone. Moreover, the Holy Spirit cultivates in us the fruits of the Spirit, as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities reflect the character of Christ and are evidence of His transformative work in our lives. As we yield to the Holy Spirit, we become more Christ-like, impacting those around us positively. As we consider the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we should ask: How are we allowing the Holy Spirit to guide, teach, and empower us? Are we attuned to His voice and responsive to His prompting? By inviting the Holy Spirit to work in us, we deepen our relationship with God and enhance our effectiveness in serving others. Let us ponder the truths of Scripture and embrace the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives. He is our constant companion, helping us navigate life’s challenges and joys as we walk in faith.

WHAT OTHERS THINK ABOUT YOU MATTERS

TEXT: ECCLESIASTES. 4:9-12

When considering what someone thinks of you, care, but do not be controlled by those thoughts. The controlling actions of your life should be directed by loving obedience to Jesus Christ. He alone is the one to whom you are accountable and to whom you serve. There will certainly be concerns about what others think of you, but those concerns should be reframed through the priority of the authority of God and His Word. Considering what others think of you should always be prioritised according to the context, content, and communication. Most importantly, you should care about all of God’s thoughts of you and the actions that bring glory to God in response. Learning from what others think of us helps us to see ourselves holistically. Just as we need a mirror to see the backside of our head, we also need an outside perspective to give us a complete picture of ourselves that we cannot see on our own. Gaining perspective and feedback from the thoughts of others is a valuable part of our growth (Proverbs 11:14, 18:2, 19:20). However, not all perspectives are created equal. The issue is not whether I should care about what others think of me, but how I care about how others think of me. When considering what someone thinks about you and your actions, it is important to care about where the information is coming from. There is a difference between a supervisor at work communicating what he/she thinks about your job performance and the comment section of a social media post. All comments should be prioritised according to the context in which you hear them. Is the context casual or formal? Is the context direct or indirect? Is the context public or private? Is the person informed or disconnected from you? These questions provide information on how much you should care about what is being said about you. The more direct and personal comments warrant a higher level of care. When considering what someone thinks of you and your actions, you should care about what is being said. In fact, there is wisdom in giving attention if the information you are receiving is being said in the first place. Once you receive it, you should care about what exactly is being said and discern if it is true. This means being honest with yourself and those around you. Even if the context should not be prioritised and is not completely informed, you should determine if the content is an accurate reflection of what is true in your heart. This allows us to benefit from a truthful insight outside of our own perspective. When considering what someone thinks of you and your actions, you should care about what is being communicated and how that relates to the gospel witness of your life. The miscommunication of your actions that leads to thoughts about you that are antithetical to a life testimony as a Christ follower should be of concern to you. This includes thoughts of you that are clearly addressed in the Scriptures.

THE CHURCH

TEXT: HEBREWS 10:24-25

The Bible encourages believers, both new and old alike, to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3:18). The first step in this process is to become actively involved in the ministry of a local church. All Christians are members of the body of Christ. In fact, the church is not just a building, but a group of people who have decided to follow Christ as their Saviour. It is God’s will that Christians meet together as a spiritual body on the local level, which they have been doing for nearly 2,000 years. A number of New Testament letters were written to local groups of believers in different parts of the Roman Empire. We need to identify ourselves with God’s people, to be counted as Christ’s followers, to come together and remain strong in the faith. Interaction with other believers builds friendship and gives spiritual stability. The writer of Hebrews 12:25 admonished the first-century followers of Christ: “Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of His coming back again is drawing near” (TLB). We cannot overemphasise the importance of fellowship in the church. There is something about fellowship within the body of believers in the local church that is unique and cannot be found elsewhere. If one live coal falls from the fire, it soon grows cold. The same principle holds in the spiritual sense. To neglect fellowship in church is to give up the encouragement and help of other Christians. We gather together to share our faith and strengthen one another in the Lord. The church brings people together for worship. There is nothing to compare with the work of the Holy Spirit in a Christian’s heart and mind during the singing of hymns and songs of praise, public Scripture readings, prayer and the teaching of God’s Word. Regular and accurate teaching of the Bible helps us grow and live successfully as Christians. Teaching that is in step with biblical truths convicts us to do what is right and helps us lovingly hold our fellow Christians accountable. The church is ideal for serving Christ and others. The evangelist Billy Graham once wrote, “I would choose a church which opens its arms to everyone with a spiritual need, regardless of social standing or race; one which has concerns about the social sins of the community, which has a missionary vision and spirit which cooperates with any worthwhile effort to bring Christ to the world. I would also choose a church which is worthy of one’s (financial gifts), and where I could unstintingly give of my talents and capabilities for the glory of God.” As we seek a church like this, we will have the opportunity to minister to others. Our lives will bear witness to Christ’s love, Matthew 5:16.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

TEXT: ROMANS 5:3-5

It is impossible to understand the Bible, Christian living, the structure of the church or our own relationship with God without understanding the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not an “it.” The Holy Spirit is a person. The Bible says that He is not something. He is Someone. He is God. The Holy Spirit sees everything that goes on in our hearts and in our minds. Nothing is hidden from Him. To understand this better, let’s talk about the Trinity. There are three persons in the Trinity—God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Christians do not worship multiple gods. God the Son, or Jesus Christ, was God in human form. The Holy Spirit lives inside us when we accept Christ and helps us grow closer to God. The moment we receive Christ as Saviour, the Holy Spirit comes to live in our hearts. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is all-powerful and present everywhere. The Holy Spirit teaches us and takes us deeper into God’s truth as we go along in our Christian life. There is not a person anywhere who can be a Christian without the Holy Spirit. There is no person who can follow Christ without the help of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit sees everything that goes on. He knows what goes on in our hearts. He knows what goes on in our minds. Nothing is hidden from Him. The Holy Spirit works in many ways. First, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin. John 16:8. He uses a mother’s prayers, or a tragic experience, or a pastor’s sermon, or some other experience to convict us of sin and of our need to give our lives to Jesus Christ. Without conviction, we could never have our sins forgiven, we could never be saved, and we could never go to Heaven. The Holy Spirit allows us to start a new life. The Bible says that we are dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1). Our spirit within us, made in the image of God, is dead toward God. Mankind needs life. Yet, we have all sinned and, therefore, are dead toward God. The Holy Spirit, however, gives us new life in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “No one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:3). The Holy Spirit is the one who makes you born again; it is a supernatural act. It is not the good things we have done, but God’s mercy through the Holy Spirit that saves us (Titus 3:5). All we have to do is accept the gift of salvation by accepting Christ. The Holy Spirit lives in us. As you read this, you may realise that you are spiritually dead, but God says, “I will put my Spirit in you. I will come to live in you.” That is the reason we should never take anything unclean into our bodies. That is the reason we should discipline our bodies. God loves your body. He does not want it polluted by fleshly lusts or harmful substances. The Bible says, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).