Preparing my heart...
Today's Readings: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Romans 14:9-12, 2 Corinthians 5:10
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
Romans 14:9-12
9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.”
12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
2 Corinthians 5:10
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Devotional Thoughts
Have you ever had a job where you had an annual or periodic review? Fun, wasn't it? You sit with your boss and your performance over the previous year is discussed and then you are rewarded with an appropriate raise (or you lose out on such). It is generally uncomfortable.
Each of us, as believers, faces a similar review at the end of our lives, what the Bible calls the "judgment seat of Christ." There is an awful judgment mentioned in Revelation 20 called the Great White Throne in which sinners are called to account before God, are judged for their sins, and are sent to the lake of fire. But when the "judgment seat" is mentioned, something very different is in mind.
At the Olympic games of the day there would be a high seat on which the king or some other dignitary sat. After the games he would pass out the appropriate rewards from his judgment seat.
In some way, after we are brought into the presence of God but before the eternal glory of heaven commences God will review our performance as Christians and give us rewards for the races we have run. There is no time for an extensive development, but the following points are in order.
- Heaven or hell are not in order, but rewards for running well as believers. 1 Corinthians 3 makes this very clear.
- This judgment is less about sin and more about ministry. Again, 1 Corinthians 3 talks about building on the foundation of Christ, building up the body of Christ, and having those works set to flame to see if they endure.
- In other words, the key issue is, have we ministered to others in ways that produce eternal fruit and results?
- According to Romans 14, the path of the Lordship of Christ is key - we must walk in obedience to him in all things.
- This is for all believers, not just for a special class, or for preachers. All must stand before Christ.
- There is reward of some kind for those who perform well in their ministry and service to Christ. We may never know until heaven what this reward looks like. Crowns, such as those given to runners who won races, are described in various places. Whatever it is, it is wonderful and desirable - it is worth serving Christ for this reward and it will be a tragedy to sacrifice it.
- There is a significant picture in Revelation of the saints laying their crowns before Christ, recognizing that Jesus Christ is the power that enabled us to earn any reward.
The purpose of this is clear. We are to be motivated by a love for Jesus Christ, a passion for him, but we should also be motivated by this reminder that one day we will stand before our savior, who died for us, and give account for how we lived our lives, how we guarded the sacred trust he gave to us.
Father, empower me to run well the race marked out for me so that when I am reviewed I will receive the crowns you have set aside for me.
Give Careful Thought to Your Ways....
Take time to consider this thought - that Jesus will one day review your life and your ministry.
- Are you living your life for eternal things?
- Are you investing in others for the name of Christ?
- If you faced the judgment seat today, what might the Savior say?
Consider these things.
Hymn of the Day
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now I'm found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'twas Grace that taught,
my heart to fear.
And grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear,
the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come.
'tis grace that brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead us home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
as long as life endures.
When we've been there ten thousand years,
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise,
than when we first begun.
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