THERE IS A REWARD.
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Rev 22:12 KJV)
There is a reward! What is a reward? For an accurate answer, turn to the Greek word used for reward. The original Greek word μισθός was transliterated misthos which means, dues paid for work, wages returned for hire; the fruit naturally resulting from toils and endeavours.
With these descriptions, I suppose we need not search further. If what you do will be given back as a wage or fruit resulting from toils and endeavours, as Jesus revealed through John the Beloved, it means, what comes to you as a reward can be determined by you. Period! And again, I want you to understand, if it is a wage, it has to be commensurate to your input. God is too righteous to ignore or misappropriate anyone's reward.
Now, sit back, take a deep breath, and ask yourself; if there must be a reward, what type of reward am I expecting? As a husband, as a wife, as a child, as a father, as a mother, as a student, as a sibling, as a child of God, as a professional in your field, as a politician, as a teacher, as a doctor, as a nurse, as a lawyer or as a friend; in whatever category you find yourself, don't be deceived; there is a reward. And your reward will be commensurate to the choice you make.
No wonder Jesus gave a golden rule:
"In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets." Mat 7:12 BSB
I regard this Scripture as a golden rule because Jesus said, it is "the Law and the Prophets". If Jesus who lived in a different dispensation could refer to it, it means, even, in the New Testament, the rule is still valid.
Beloved, everyone has a choice to be good or to be bad. This is the stage your reward can be determined. But you may have done wrong all your life; it is never too late to begin to influence your reward. Remember, there is a reward!
FROM A MESS TO A MESSAGE
"A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time." Isa 60:22 KJV
Have you ever pondered on how God, in His greatness, can turn a mess into a message? OS Hillman narrated the story of how God rescued him from a wretched situation to a renowned internationally recognized speaker, author, and consultant on the subject of faith at work.
At 44, he had made enough money to retire if he wanted. He played golf three times a week and lived a life many would envy. One day, his wife of fourteen years wanted to separate, and three years later, it led to a divorce. Around the same time, his investments of over $500,000 evaporated within months. He lost 80% of his business. Clients failed to pay over $140,000 in bills. His world quickly collapsed. His successful small business and family were reduced to rubble. It was a mess!
Two years rolled by. OS wrestled with “What had I done wrong? Why had God allowed this to happen to me?” During the first year, a man entered his life and helped him confront the issues related to his character. There is a saying: "When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost." The following year, it was another issue he needed to address. He paid careful attention to certain areas of his life, and God helped him to work his way up again.
Beloved, God never intended to see His children drowned by the sea of challenges. Rather, He wants them to come out victorious at the other side; look back and see those challenges no more.
I don’t know what challenges you may be facing. What I know is that there are challenges to overcome where you are. Rough times are not when to complain but to contemplate. They are the times of deep reflection. Look inward and identify the adjustments God expects you to make. As you take this bold step, God will give you the grace to rise and conquer. Challenges of life will not drown you. I decree those challenges to become your stepping stones to greatness. I see that mess you are submerged in become a message that will bring honour to God in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.
DIVINE GUIDANCE
Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. [37] But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. (Exodus 40:36-37 ESV)
There is a saying, “No guidance to move is good guidance to stay where you are”. This is more relevant in relationship with God than in any other affair.
I heard of the story of a woman of God during a programme I attended some years ago. She often had dreams that whilst walking with Jesus, sometimes she sees herself walking far ahead of Him. Some other times, she sees herself walking far behind whilst He is ahead.
Whenever she had such revelation, she knew she was not in the right. When she sees herself walking far ahead of Him, it is obvious that she had abandoned God's leading; she was taking decisions on her own as if she were in control of her life. At other times when she sees herself far behind, it is an indication that her pace is too slow for GOD. Whilst God is leading, wanting to progress on an existing project, or trying to guide into new things that are good and essential for her, she is busy doing her own things, slowing God down.
The Israelites did not attempt to go before the cloud – they waited for the cloud to be lifted before they set out. Children of God need to replicate such character of total dependence on God. But how many times have the Christians of this age failed in this area! Doing our way and hoping to get the right. Can that ever work? No!
Beloved, God is still interested in leading His own. Romans 8:14 states:
“Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
True wisdom is in dependence on God’s leading. Human beings are prone to being tempted to hastily run ahead of Him. Doing so may end in a disaster. At all times, we need to understand what God is doing and patiently follow His leading. Remember, “No guidance to move is good guidance to stay where you are”. So, wait on Him for DIVINE GUIDANCE!
WE ARE LIKE THEM THAT DREAM
“When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.” (Psalm 126:1 KJV)
Psalm 126 appears to be an inspirational song, sung by the returnees from the Babylonian captivity. It is both a hymn of thanksgiving for restoration to Zion and a prayer for restored prosperity.
Imagine a people delivered from where all hope and aspirations had been lost! No wonder they needed the surrounding nations to first recognise the great things God did before it dawned on them! Verse two states, “.... then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.”
The implication of that verse is that the Chaldeans, amongst whom the people of God had been taken captives, saw the hand of God in their deliverance. They perhaps wondered, “How on earth could Cyrus, an unbeliever, the King of Persia, involve himself so much in the deliverance of these people!? What was his motive? What did he stand to gain? Has he any reward in sight? Leaders want more people to govern. Why would King Cyrus just declare deliverance for these people?
Cyrus’ notion was quite strange: “Let them go. Send them into their land to rebuild their temple.” He ordered men to help them and to return the vessels of the Lord’s house, taken away by the king of Babylon (Ezra 1:1). The Bible says, he made that proclamation and put it into writing. Wow! It is only God Almighty who could save in this manner.
But you need to realise that God had already gone ahead of them. So, the battle was won. Even to the delivered, it didn’t appear real at the initial stage. Verse one is a true confession. “We were like them that dream.”
I pray you come to the realisation of what God has done for you. As you have sowed in tears, you are doubtless divinely positioned to reap in joy. Situations that caused you pain in the past will henceforth bring you joy. At your deliverance, you and the surrounding nations will testify, “We are like them that dream.” So shall it be in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.
Experiencing the TRUE GOD.
