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Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. 1 Corinthians 4:5
A few months ago I had the most bizarre thing happen to me. I went to a local electronics store to purchase a TV. I looked closely at the picture of each model. I asked the salesman some questions about the warranty and service history of each set and finally made a decision based largely on the quality of the set and its manufacture in the USA. An added bonus to the TV I bought was the rebate attached to my purchase.
But that isn’t the bizarre thing. That happened a few days later. I was watching the early news when the phone rang. Believe it or not, the caller on the other end of the line was the CEO of the company I purchased the TV from! He called and told me he’d be flying into town tomorrow and was wondering if we could have lunch! I was flabbergasted but told him I’d love to have lunch with him. He assured me it was his treat.
The next day we went to very nice restraint for lunch. I found out the CEO was a very personable guy and we had a great time together. In fact, our ‘lunch’ ended up being nearly two hours sitting at the table eating great food and getting to know each other. At the end of our time, the CEO reached into his coat pocket and pulled out an envelope.
“Here is your rebate check,” He smiled as he handed it to me. “I just wanted to thank you on behalf of our company for purchasing your TV from us. There are many other brands out there and I’m just pleased that you decided on us. Thank you.”
Can you believe that? I hope not. It wasn’t true. Reality is, we all know that even though a CEO of some company is pleased we buy their product, they can’t possibly deliver a thank you to each person who buys their product. There are just too many of us consumers and, frankly, we aren’t that important.
But we are to God! Look again at the end of the verse for today. When the time comes for us Christ-followers to enter the kingdom we will receive our reward for being faithful directly from God himself! He’s not going to delegate that privilege to some angel. We won’t be visited by some great Bible hero. Not even Jesus gets the honor. Nope. It’s our Heavenly Father that will personally give us our reward.
There are many times we do things that go unappreciated. Many times that people will misunderstand our motives, challenge the wisdom of our actions, or be critical of our methods. But someday all those things that have been hidden will be praised. By the angels? Perhaps. By those who’ve gone before us? Maybe. But most importantly by the CEO of the universe!
Don’t be discouraged. Don’t give up doing good. Someday your actions will be rewarded personally by your heavenly Father.
PRAYER: Father God. I’m in awe when I realize that I am the most important thing in your life. It amazes me to think that you will personally reward me for all the things that I do that go unnoticed. I praise you and worship you for your great love and mercy towards me. Empower me today with a new energy to serve you. Not for the reward, but as an act of worship. In Jesus name, Amen.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
Have you ever meditated on what it means to have the Creator God, the almighty, all knowing, ever present God in relationship with you? He’s not watching us from heaven on high like we often think of. He’s walking with us! He’s sitting in our car with us during rush hour traffic. He’s holding our hand in the doctor’s office when the test reports come in. He’s got his arm around you when the news comes that a loved one has joined him for the eternal portion of their lives.
You know that feeling of elation you have when the boss tells you that you have a promotion coming…and a raise? Well, he feels it too and he smiles with pride. Just like he does when he’s sitting with you at the basketball game watching your son/daughter score the winning basket! And he cheers too!
When your little one lays sick with fever he has one hand on their tiny little body, and the other on your shoulder. I think he may even have tear on his cheek. Not because he’s worried about the baby, but because he feels your pain of worry and the pain of the little one.
During those times when the challenges of life seem too much to bear and you feel like you are bearing them all alone, he’s there. You may not sense his presence. Especially during those times of weakness when you give into temptation. You may not sense him during those times of disappointment with a spouse, a child or your parents. But God’s presence with you isn’t determined by your awareness of him. He’s always by your side. Watching your back, guiding your future. Comforting your present.
The next time you are attacked by the enemy named worry, worship instead. Worship isn’t reserved for Sunday. Worship isn’t reserved for any particular place or time. Worship is daily walking with the assurance that the one walking with you and loving you is God. That’s grace. That’s relationship. That’s God for you.
PRAYER: Father God, I praise and worship you for your promise to always be by my side. Forgive me for the times I forget that you not only watch over me but you walk with me, side by side and hand in hand. Today I ask that in every circumstance we go through together I will be aware of your presence by my side. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’ Numbers 6:24-26 (NLT)
The blessing of the priests to the people of Israel uses the word Jehovah (Lord) in three ways, designating three distinct persons that make up one God, Jehovah the creator God of the universe.
“May the Lord bless you and protect you” speaks to the protection of a loving father over his children. A recent news story tells of a father who, upon seeing an oncoming tornado, pushed his daughter to the floor and lay on top of her to protect her. As the storm passed over the building collapsed. The father was killed while the daughter lived because of his sacrifice. Our father in heaven blesses with the spiritual blessings of choosing us to be His own, preserving us through grace, pardoning our sin, giving us second, third and fourth chances and providing us with eternal life.
“May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.” Jesus Christ, as Jehovah the Son, blesses us with forgiveness and the promise of eternal life with the Father. We are adopted by the father to be sons of God because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Each of us as Christ-followers are saints and receive all the privileges of Son-ship. What an awesome truth it is! The Son of God smiles upon us and grants us grace even though we fail, we rebel and refuse to follow Him. He knows our weakness and when we come to Him for forgiveness He lovingly and willingly cleanses us.
“May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace”. Jehovah the Spirit blesses by working the forgiveness of Christ in our lives. When we open ourselves to His leading He guides us and comforts us in times of sorrow and fear. He is the seal of our salvation, the guarantee that nothing can or will ever separate us from the love of Jesus and the forgiveness afforded us by His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. The Spirit of God grants us peace in the time of turmoil, guidance when the way seems unsure and wisdom as we draw into close relationship with Him.
PRAYER: Most Holy God. I thank you for the many blessings you have given me through Jesus Christ my Lord. I praise you for the protection I’ve had in life during times I didn’t even realize I was in danger. I praise you for the forgiveness you have given me during those times I willfully disobeyed or doubted you. I praise you for the fact that you didn’t leave me alone, but sent your Spirit to be my daily guide and comfort. I pray this in the name of your Son Jesus, Amen.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
“Don’t worry!” Two little words that are so easy to say, an action that is so hard, sometimes impossible to do. Sometimes people will tell us ‘don’t worry’ when they have no idea how much pain we are in. Sometimes people will say ‘don’t worry’ and make us feel like our worrying is some terrible sin that questions God’s desire or ability to intervene.
Sometimes we worry about things that don’t matter. Sometimes worry cripples our ability to think clearly or to act wisely. Sometimes we worry about things that are way beyond our control, which frankly, is a waste of time because it doesn’t change anything.
Paul wrote these words of advice to the church in Philippi. This was the small town where Paul and Silas were put in prison for preaching about Jesus. It was cold, dark, damp and no doubt smelly because ancient prisons had no ‘official’ bathroom facilities or showers.
In the midst of all this Paul and Silas sang praises to God! Then an earthquake hit and Paul and Silas were not only set free but had opportunity to lead the jail keeper and his entire family to Jesus. In the midst of calamity and injustice and danger and fear, Paul practiced what he preached!
There is on little phrase in these verses that gives much hope and relief, “pray about everything”. This little phrase reminds us that there is nothing too small to bring to our Heavenly Father. When we were growing up and exploring life we’d bring the smallest leaf, stones and sticks and all sorts of other things to our parents in excitement of what we’d found. In the same way we can come to our Father.
There is nothing to overwhelming to bring to the Father as well. It may be overwhelming to us because we don’t know the facts, we don’t know the future and we see no solution. But our Father in Heaven knows the facts, the solution and how it will all work out in the end.
Sometimes we worry because the situation we are in is a result of our own doing. We are afraid that God will say, “That’s it. That’s the last straw. How many times have I told you not to do that? Well, not this time buster. You are on your own this time.” God will never, ever abandon us. We fail. We fall. We rebel. But we can always come home to the Father for forgiveness.
Spend time today talking with God. Tell him all your concerns, big, small, and insignificant. Ask forgiveness for the things you need forgiveness for and believe you are forgiven. And most of all focus you mind on that fact that God loves you. Spend time thinking of all the blessings He’s bestowed upon you. When we tell Him all our struggles He will work to bring us peace beyond belief.
PRAYER: Holy Father, I thank You today for your love and forgiveness. I praise you for the fact that although you are creator and sustainer of the entire universe you aren’t too big or powerful or important to kneel beside me as a small child with a scuffed knee. There is nothing I can do to separate me from your love. Help me to give all my worries to you today. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 