The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Reward

  • Have Thine own way, Lord!

    “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.”

    2 Timothy 2:20

    God had sent Jeremiah to watch a potter work a piece of clay, making it into a vessel (see Jeremiah 18:1-4). Jeremiah recognized that God is the Potter and we are the clay. The Potter took the clay and fashioned it into a vessel to be used. We understand this to be a picture of God dealing with individual people. Our choice: to receive or reject God’s work.

    God deals with patience and mercy with all vessels. Notice that He deals with them – not as lifeless clay, but as creatures with a free will. Why? “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). God has unlimited power over the clay. Yet, He allows freedom; God will yield to our choice. He gives ample opportunity to reveal any inclination one might have of obeying God. We gain some insight into this in Romans. “20. Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” (Romans 9:20-21). Honor means “by analogy esteem (especially of the highest degree), or the dignity itself.” Dishonor means “it refers to dishonor, disgrace.” Take note that the clay is in His hand and under His control, yet while working with the individual, God gives ample opportunity to reveal any inclination that one might have of obeying God. Nevertheless, there are those who challenge the Potter (God). Some clay (vessel) that God is shaping will not take His designing. But, God is long-suffering. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Some rebel against God’s plan, and that one continues on under the judgment of the God it questions. God hates sin and it must be dealt with, but His mercy goes out to the vessel involved. If we insist upon destroying ourselves, He will allow us to do that. If we insist upon not being repentant, and instead choose to be disobedient and/or rebellious, He will give us our desire – at least the fruits of that choice. Yet, God patiently waits for His people to allow Him to shape and mold them into what He wants them to be. Keep in mind: The Potter has an intended purpose for us. He has a goal. We may frustrate that goal. Remember that some become vessels of honor, some vessels of dishonor.

    Understanding there are vessels of honor and dishonor, read the following verses: “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour” (2 Timothy 2:20).Vessels of gold and silver are vessels of honor. Read a description of such a one from Psalms. “23. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand” (Psalm 37:23-24). Vessels of wood and earth are vessels of dishonor. One can recognize a vessel of dishonor in Isaiah. “Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?” (Isaiah 45:9). When we refuse God’s will, we are injuring ourselves, or depriving ourselves of the joy and satisfaction of being where God wants us to be, fulfilling His purpose for our lives . Remember: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). God has a plan. It is our job, as Christians, to submit to Him and walk in it (see also 2 Timothy 2:21). The key to what kind of a vessel we will be is determined by how we respond to the Potter’s touch and our obedience to His Word. “23. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons” (Colossians 3:23-25). There are many who refuse to submit fully to God and His Word. The defects are not in the Potter but in the clay.

    The following song is a great reminder of this lesson.

    Have Thine own way, Lord!

    Author: Adelaide A. Pollard (1906)

    1. Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
    Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
    Mold me and make me After Thy will,
    While I am waiting, Yielded and still.

    2.Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
    Search me and try me, Master today!
    Whiter than snow, Lord, Wash me just now,
    As in Thy presence Humbly I bow.

    3.Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
    Wounded and weary, Help me I pray!
    Power, all power, Surely is Thine!
    Touch me and heal me, Saviour divine!

    4.Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
    Hold o’er my being, Absolute sway!
    Fill with Thy Spirit, Till all shall see
    Christ only, always, Living in me!

    Are you where God wants you to be, submitting to the Potter’s hand, fulfilling what He has planned for your life?

  • Works Shall be Made Manifest

    “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”

    1 Corinthians 3:13

    Once one believes that Jesus died upon the cross to pay for sin, then trusts in Jesus as one’s Lord, there is a growing process that is to begin. Christians learn to walk in obedience to God’s Word. We must also learn to joyfully surrender to His will. Christians are to lay aside the sinfulness of this world, in obedience to God, understanding one day we will be with Him in heaven (see Romans 6:12-13). So as we live here on earth, Christians are to live lives for Christ.

    There are many lives recorded in the Bible that are examples to help us understand how to live as a Christian. Paul was one of the great ones. He recognized the importance of obedience, and recorded the following to help us understand. “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). This verse does not mean that one “works” for his salvation. Work out means “to work fully, that is, accomplish; by implication to finish… perform, work out; toil; commit.” Christians are to allow the salvation (that we already have because of Jesus) to be manifested (revealed by how we live Christ-like) in the expression of this new life. Christians need to live Christ-like for our own benefit. However, it is more than this. It is also important for Christians to accomplish, finish, what God has for us to do while we live here in this world. This verse emphasizes that it is each Christian’s responsibility. Salvation here means “of the present experience of God’s power to deliver.”

    The greatest thing to recognize is that Christians have been given the Holy Spirit within to teach us and lead us into the truths found in God’s Word. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). God promises that He will work in our lives, helping us to do what is right and pleasing to Him. God working in Christians emphasizes that God enables us; for we cannot do it on our own. When you read “both to will”, it is letting Christians know that it is to be our desire to do what God expects of us. When you read “and to do,” we understand that all that we do for the Lord here depends upon His working in us, fulfilling His plan. He allows us to accomplish things for Him while we are on this earth – if we will only obey Him. Remember: we are not doing it alone – for God’s power is helping us. We are to not come short of what God has for our lives here on the earth. Christians are to actually accomplish what God has for us to do.

    There is a picture for us that may help in understanding how we can please God. “11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13. Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward” (1 Corinthians 3:11-14). Once I belong to Jesus (He is my foundation), I choose how to build my life here on this earth. In verse twelve, we find six things built upon the foundation “which is Jesus Christ”. The first three listed (gold, silver, and precious stones), picture things that glorify God. Fire cannot destroy the first three. Fire purifies them. However, fire will destroy the last three mentioned (wood, hay, stubble). These things are representative of things from this life and world that we cannot take with us into eternity. It is important that we choose to build lives here that glorify God, and to not choose the temporary things of the here and now. One day, when I stand before God, I will account for the kind of life I lived for Him. My salvation was determined when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. However, one day I will be rewarded for the things I have accomplished for the Lord. (“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” Ephesians 2:10. Also see Romans 8:1). Anything I have done that did not glorify Him will be burned up – for “it shall be revealed by fire”.

    Something that should make the choices in this life easier: Christians are to remember that our lives are no longer our own, for we have been bought with a price. “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20). Remembering that Jesus gave His life to purchase each Christian’s salvation, Christians are to choose to accomplish the things He has for us to do, pleasing Him.

    Have you chosen to fill your life with the things of this world that will one day be “revealed by fire”?

    Or

    Have you determined to build your life with things that glorify God, looking forward to a reward from Him?

  • Jeremiah’s Help in a Time of Need

    “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

    Hebrews 6:10

    Jeremiah faithfully proclaimed God’s Words to the kings and the people, warning them of the coming destruction and captivity, if they did not repent and return to God. When the people failed to repent, God allowed the Babylonians to besiege Jerusalem. Jeremiah witnessed the captivity of Judah by Babylon and the destruction of Jerusalem, the city where God had chosen to place His name. Even through all of this, Jeremiah continually shared the Word of the Lord with the people. We should recognize that at times he suffered and was rejected. This helps us understand why Jeremiah is known as the “Weeping Prophet”. Often, his life was in danger. However, we never read that Jeremiah quit God.

    Remember a few of the times Jeremiah was unjustly imprisoned, and God’s protection, allowing him to continue delivering God’s Words to the people and the kings.

    • Jeremiah was put in the stocks: (Jeremiah 20:1-2).
    • Jeremiah was shut up in the court of the prison in the king’s house: (Jeremiah 32:2-3).
    • Jeremiah was falsely accused, they smote him, and put him in prison: (Jeremiah 37:13-15).
    • He was in prison when Jerusalem was taken by Babylon (see Jeremiah 38:28).

    Probably the most familiar time we remember is when Jeremiah was lowered into a dungeon (probably an old cistern) where he sunk in the mire. Read some of when Jeremiah was in the dungeon: “1. Then Shephatiah … heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying, 2. Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live … 4. Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death … 5. Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand … 6. Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon … that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire” (Jeremiah 38:1-6). Jeremiah was put into a “dungeon” (probably an empty cistern) where there was no water.

    “7. Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon… 8. Ebedmelech went forth out of the king’s house, and spake to the king, saying, 9. My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city” (Jeremiah 38:7-9). This man, Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, had compassion for Jeremiah. He wanted to spare Jeremiah’s life.

    “10. Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die. 11. So Ebedmelech took the men with him… and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah. 12. And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so. 13. So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison” (Jeremiah 38:10-13). Although Jeremiah was still in prison, his life was no longer under threat of death and starvation. Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison until Jerusalem was taken by Babylon (see Jeremiah 38:28).

    What makes this event so interesting?

    Babylon besieged Jerusalem for about eighteen months before they took they city. Many died before and during this taking of Jerusalem (to remember the tragic invasion, read Jeremiah 52 and Lamentations). So with the fear of death and destruction, God gave Jeremiah a special word of encouragement to give to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, the man who had saved Jeremiah’s life. “15. Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 16. Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee. 17. But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. 18. For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 39:15-18). God understood that Ebedmelech the Ethiopian was afraid during the days that Babylon besieged the city. To help this man understand that Jeremiah was a true prophet of God, God promised that Ebedmelech the Ethiopian would be spared. This was because he took care of Jeremiah, God’s man, and Ebedmelech the Ethiopian had put his trust in God.

    Read a couple of verses that should help us understand the importance of this act. Jesus said the following to his disciples when he sent them out to preach to the people: “He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward” (Matthew 10:41). Ebedmelech the Ethiopian received his life in Jeremiah’s day for helping Jeremiah.

    The writer of Hebrews encourages us with the following: “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10). Even today, we are to minister to other Christian’s in Jesus’ name.

    These verses help us understand that Ebedmelech the Ethiopian did a good thing by helping the prophet Jeremiah. And God let him know by sparing his life during that terrible time, “because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD”.

    Have you put your trust in the Lord and remembered to minister to other Christians in Jesus’ name?

  • Do not Disregard

    “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.”
    Hebrews 2:3

    Because of what Jesus did, Christians are to remember the following. “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip” (Hebrews 2:1). Give the more earnest heed means “to apply one’s mind to something; attend to that person or thing spoken of.” As Christians, who hear of the things of Christ, it is imperative that the things taught are implemented in one’s life “lest at any time we should let them slip.” Lest at any time we should let them slip means “to be cautious in allowing something to slip away, suggesting a gradual and almost unnoticed movement past a certain point; to move stealthily as a thief; to glide away; to swerve or deviate from something, i.e.: truth, law, precepts, to transgress, to disobey: lest we drift away from that which we have heard.” This is a warning not to depart from the foundational teachings of what Jesus did for Christians. Be careful that you do not disregard God’s Salvation given by the life of His Son, Jesus.

    “For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward” (Hebrews 2:2). The angels in the Old Testament that are referred to in this verse are the messengers of God who delivered His Word to the people. Moses was one who gave them the Ten Commandments that came from God. Do you remember the fourth commandment? “8. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work …” (Exodus 20:8-10a). They were told to not do any work on the Sabbath day. However, we find an instance when one gathered sticks on the Sabbath day. “32. And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. 33. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. 34. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. 35. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. 36. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses” (Numbers 15:32-36). Judgment was swift. The man who willingly broke God’s Law was put to death. This event is to put us in mind as to what Hebrews 2:2 is speaking: “every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward.” (See also Hebrews 10:26-28.) In the Old Testament, “just recompense” was often swift and severe. However, we never hear again in the Scriptures of another person gathering sticks on the Sabbath. I believe all remembered that event and learned something important.

    Having that event in mind, read the following verse: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him” (Hebrews 2:3). Many people heard Jesus speak of this salvation, and it was confirmed by many witnesses who recorded this in the Bible (“first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him”). What is this salvation? Read the three following verses to help in the understanding.

    • “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31).
    •  “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10).
    • “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).

    Because of what Jesus did upon the cross, one can receive salvation. However, it must not be neglected. If we neglect means “to be careless of; make light of, neglect, be negligent, not regard.” It is sometimes easy for Christians who are living here on earth to forget that they belong to Jesus and are to obey His Word instead of compromising to the world’s ways. After understanding the previous verses, Christians are to recognize the importance of not “neglecting” the salvation we have received, purchased with the death of Christ on the cross. With this knowledge, we are to realize the importance of appropriating the faith of Christ in our hearts into the actuality of our lives. All of the world needs to see and understand by a Christian’s lifestyle just what has happened in that heart. A Christian is to live so like Christ that anyone who sees wants what that Christian has: Salvation only by faith in Jesus.

    Have you disregarded the “so great salvation” of God?

    Or

    Have you appropriated your faith in Jesus into the actuality of your life?

    How to be Saved

  • Heartily, as to the Lord

    “23. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
    Colossians 3:23-24

    If you have ever read the book of Jeremiah, you understand that the messages God gave Jeremiah to share were extremely difficult for him to deliver. However, Jeremiah was always faithful – even when he was beaten, imprisoned, and his fellowman rejected him. He willingly obeyed God’s command to deliver His message calling Judah to repent and return to God. Jeremiah had little, if any, hope of the possibility of God’s people truly repenting and returning to God, yet he faithfully delivered the messages God had. What courage!

    There was one particularly interesting time God had him speak. There was a nomadic people that lived among the Israelites called the Rechabites (also known as the Kenites). They were descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, who had chosen to live among God’s people in tents. They occasionally are mentioned as those who helped God’s people (see Jael in Judges 4 and Jehonadab with Jehu in 2 Kings 10). God sent Jeremiah to speak to these people, take to them to the house of the Lord, and give them wine to drink. Jeremiah did what God told him to do. Read their response. “6. But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever: 7. Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers. 8. Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters; 9. Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed: 10. But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.” (Jeremiah 35:6-10). What was wrong with drinking the wine? They had made a commitment to their father that they would not. They chose to obey their father, Jonadab. God had a point He wanted to make to His people. “13. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD. 14. The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father’s commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me” (Jeremiah 35:13-14). God made a very good point. God commended the Rechabites for their faithfulness to the command given to them by their father. Their father had given commands, and his children obeyed. God had given the Israelites commands, yet they had disregarded them. God reminded them He had sent prophets to tell them. “… saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me” (Jeremiah 35:15b). God’s people did not listen. They did not obey God’s command to return to Him. This family of Rechab had willingly chosen to obey the words of their father, yet God’s people had willingly chosen not to obey the words of God. The Rechabites were destined to live as a nomadic people – without homes, farms, vineyards, or a place to call home. Yet this people obeyed their earthly father. On the other hand, God had given His people a land where they built homes, had farms and vineyards, and a place to call their homeland. However, the Israelites did not obey God. God blessed the Rechabites.  

    Because God’s people did not repent or choose to obey God, God allowed the enemy to destroy Jerusalem and take them captive. Jeremiah witnessed the destruction of his beloved city, and his people carried captive to a foreign land. Yet even through rejection and witnessing Jerusalem’s destruction and the people’s captivity, Jeremiah still mourned and prayed for his people. He even remained to encourage the few left in the land with God’s Words. Jeremiah understood something that had not even been written yet in his day: “23. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).

    Do you obey God’s Word heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men?