Pathways to God's Rewards 5 - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) April 11, 2025
- P L U N D E R E R
- Apr 11
- 3 min read
I don't know about you, but when I think of the word 'reward', it connotes something pleasant. Maybe some cash for providing the tip that leads to the arrest of a criminal. Or the financial award that comes from being a hero who saves a bunch of people - the way it happens in the movies, at least. I could think of so many different ways a person could end up with a reward. Thankfully, there are several different avenues to rewards when it comes to God as well.
However, it is not every godly reward that will leave a person feeling warm and cuddly. There are some rewards that spell nothing but disaster and the children of God would be wise to avoid the pathways that could lead to these. They are the sort of compensation that reflect God's judgment upon a person and their choices.
Matthew 16:27 - For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. (NKJV).
This scripture speaks of judgment day - a time when Jesus Christ will return to earth and sit on the Judgment Seat (2 Corinthians 5:10). On that day, He will hold every person to account for their deeds, with believers being reviewed first. They will have to answer for every choice and idle word. Those who lived in accordance with His teachings will be found blameless and receive heaven as a reward (1 Corinthians 1:8). These are those who love Jesus enough to obey His teachings and stand firm in their faith (Revelation 21:7). They allow God's Word and Spirit to guide in every way.
For those who lived by the ways of the world, they will also be judged and their payment will be the lake of sulfur - hell. This group is described in Revelation 21:8 - But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexµally immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” These are the stiff-necked whose lives featured unrepented idolatry, occult practice, being wicked to others, gossip, and more.
This is a reward no believer should desire and we all can avoid this by God's grace and mercy. Also crucial is our cooperation with His Holy Spirit, whose job it is to get us to heaven. And as we spend more time studying the Bible and consuming godly content, we transform, becoming more like Christ and become those who receive God's reward here on earth as well as the golden ticket to live with Him forever. Glory be to God in the highest!
May the Lord our God usher us to His heavenly kingdom. His word states in Philippians 2:13 that He is working on His own, giving them the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. That same God has equipped His children with everything good for doing His will (Hebrews 13:21). Through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the children of God will reap their reward, IJMN, Amen.
Be sure to come back for fellowship at Noon EST. God bless you.
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ALTAR CALL
Jesus said that nobody will get to God His Father except through Him in John 14:6. He also said that no one will see the Kingdom of God (i.e. Heaven) if they have not been born again (John 3:3). To qualify to see God in heaven, a person need only repent and believe the good news that Jesus is God's Son who died for the sins of mankind.
If you want to understand what I'm talking about, please watch the short video below. It's from a guy who speaks with a British accent, but please don't hold that against him. What he says is important and can change the entire trajectory of your life for the better.
If…