January 5th & 9th
But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”-
—1 Corinthians 2:9
We will ALL stand before the
seat of Christ.
So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
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.
—2 Corinthians 5:9-10
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; for it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.”
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
—Romans 14:10-12
It’s not an issue of
but of
.
Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious
stones, wood, hay, straw— 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. If the work
that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a
reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though
he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
—1 Corinthians 3:12-15
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one
receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete
exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a
perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run
aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my
body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I
myself should be disqualified.
—1 Corinthians 9:24-27
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was
not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though
it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
—1 Corinthians 15:10
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all
wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I
toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within
me.
—Colossiains 1:28-29
Neither Jesus nor Paul saw a disconnect between loving God and
competing for rewards. Jesus TOLD us to store up treasure in heaven.
FILL OUT YOUR CONNECTION CARD HERE
1. I commit to living this year with eternity in mind.
2. I commit to discipline myself and run the race God has called me to run.
3. I commit to prepare for my judgment before Christ.