Have we lost heart in doing good?
In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul lists the “fruit of the Spirit”. “Fruit,” here, means “beneficial results,” the good things that come …
Tag Archives: Reward
Can we manufacture goodness on our own?
Jesus wants us to love. Jesus wants us to do good. Jesus wants us to not expect anything in …
“The one who welcomes you welcomes me, and the one who welcomes me welcomes him who sent me.” ~Jesus
Jesus gives me good news. As a disciple, if anyone welcomes me, they are welcoming Jesus and God. There is …
“But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money.” ~Jesus
I need to think about this. Am I digging a hole? Jesus has been very kind and caring. Jesus is …
“If there is a poor man with you, you shall not harden your heart. You shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.” ~God
God is clear about my obligations to the poor. This is a consistent theme under both the old and new …
“And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.” ~Jesus
When Jesus saw the large crowds as sheep without a shepherd, His compassion led Him to teach them the things …
“Get insurance with God and do a good deed, settle down and stick to your last. Keep company with God, get in on the best.” ~King David
It is a wise thing to “do good”. I know that “good works” won’t save me. Only the redemptive act …
“Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.” ~Jesus
Jesus is challenging me. This is tough. Am I willing to give up everything, including my life for King Jesus? …
“If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.” ~Jesus
Faith is not something I conjure up on my own, nor is it something I am born with. Faith is …
“In all things God may be glorified through Jesus the Messiah, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.” ~Apostle Peter
God’s glory is to be my highest motive. God wants me to know that He sees what no one else …
“And if anyone misses God’s goal, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus the Messiah the righteous.” ~Apostle John
Special praise goes to Jesus for vindicating the penitent and the needy who have no human champions. Ultimately, all God’s …
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of the Messiah.” ~Apostle Paul
I really don’t have an excuse for not having more faith. I have heard Jesus clearly. That is the first …
“You’re not yet taking God seriously!” ~Jesus
How am I doing with my faith and belief in God and Jesus? Am I taking God seriously? Confidence in …
“If any of you wants to serve me, then accompany me.” ~Jesus
Jesus wants me to accompany him. Jesus wants me to go where He has gone and is going. Jesus wants …
Slave — Whose slave are you? God’s? Sin’s?
It is hard to get the issue of being a slave in my mind. In the Greek-speaking world of the first …
Law — Is there a conflict between grace and the law?
The purpose of the Law was, basically, to bring us to the Messiah. It is essential to start here. Once …
Self-Denial — Is it a requirement of following Jesus the Messiah?
There is much to be said about self denial and the scripture repeats this theme over and over. Jesus is …
Happiness — Who is it for?
I am happy. Jesus promises me that I will be. A state of pleasure or joy experienced both by people …
Persecution — Are religious authorities and elites an agency of it? Does this include the Religion of Secular Humanism and Atheists?
There is no doubt that persecution is a stark reality of living for a disciple of Jesus. For a disciple …
Obedience — What is the example of Jesus the Messiah?
I admit it is tough to always be obedient. I have a rebellious streak in me. The Bible has much …
Poverty — The treatment of the poor — Are they to be neglected?
In both the Old and New Testaments, we see God’s desire for His children to show compassion to the poor …
Compassion — Is it shown in actions?
Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, exemplified all of the Father’s attributes, including His compassion. When Jesus saw His …
“Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness.” ~Apostle Paul
Obedience is a willingness to submit myself to the will of God and to put it into effect. Scripture emphasizes the …
“Happy are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad!” ~Jesus
How did Jesus expect me to react under persecution? Rejoice and be glad! That is right. I’m jump up and down for …
Wealth — John the Baptist on Fruits Worthy of Repentance
This is pretty stunning. Of course, John the Baptist is a prophet and is determined to speak the truth of …
“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.” ~Jesus
God has a goal in mind for me. It could bring me into conflict with those I love most. Betrayal …
Achievement — Is faith required?
Where does faith come from? Faith is not something I conjure up on my own, nor is it something I am …
Motive — Is God’s glory my highest motive?
Because the human heart is very deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9), I can easily fool myself about my own motives. I can …
Justice — It is Declared in Jesus the Messiah
Justice is a term used for what is right or “as it should be.” Justice is one of God’s attributes …
Faith — God is the Object of our Faith
There is much to be said about faith. So … I start with God. God is the object of my …
“Then there’s only one thing left to do: Sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. You will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ~Jesus
Where is my treasure? What is important to me? Is Jesus my Master? Jesus told us to “store up for …
“You have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness.” ~Jesus
How is God’s justice declared? Justice is a term used for what is right or “as it should be.” Justice is …
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.” ~Jesus
Jesus is my Master. Jesus owns me. I am His slave. I should be happy with that being enough. This …
Goodness — Good Works will be Rewarded
In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul lists the “fruit of the Spirit”. “Fruit,” here, means “beneficial results,” the good things that come …
“We don’t want the crowds up in arms” ~Religious Leaders
The religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus. They would. The religious elites just didn’t want people to be upset about …
Fasting — As an Empty Ritual it is Condemned
Fasting can be an empty ritual and is condemned. Did not people come to Jesus and ask: ‘Why do John’s …
Obedience — It is Demanded of God’s People
I know. Obeying runs against the grain of what I want to do. Jesus demands that I am an obedient …
Betrayal — It is a Part of a Disciple’s Experience
Betrayal is a gross violation of trust and can be one of the most devastating forms of pain inflicted upon …
Justice — Is justice declared through God the Father?
Is God fair? Yes. God’s justice is without any partiality. I can trust God completely. Being just Himself, God calls …
Slave — Am I a Slave or a Servant? Does it Matter?
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave (dŏulŏs) above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become …
Hell — Temptations to Miss God’s Goal (aka sin) Must be Dealt with Drastically
Do you believe in hell? It is interesting that a much higher percentage of people believe in the existence of …
Hypocrisy — Its Expression through Insincere Motives
Hypocrisy is an outward pretense masking an inner reality. Jesus condemns hypocrisy, especially in matters of faith. As a follower …
“But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.” ~Jesus
I am thinking this part of the Jesus Manifesto has been ripped out of most Evangelical and Protestant bibles. I …
44 Questions that Jesus Asks in the Good News According to Matthew
It is stunning how skillfully our Master Jesus, the Messiah, uses questions (read more here) to teach vital spiritual truths. …
“Happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” ~Jesus
Jesus continues with His radical Manifesto. We all know what it is like to be hungry or thirsty. We can’t …
Kindness — God shows kindness to all, evil and good.
In Galatians 5:22 we learn that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 …
Is God’s justice impartial?
Justice is a term used for what is right or “as it should be.” Justice is one of God’s attributes …
“Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why?” ~Jesus
Jesus has some goals in mind for me. Jesus is clear what they are. Jesus warns me that there will …
Goodness — God’s people are called on to do good works
How am I doing with being selfless on behalf of others? It is a pretty telling question if I answer …
“What are you willing to give me if I deliver Jesus over to you?” ~Judas
According to the traditional interpretation of the Bible, Holy Wednesday is the day on which Jesus was anointed with spikenard during a …
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” ~ God
What should followers of Jesus think about justice and the social justice movement? “If we take the Bible seriously then …
“I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” ~Jesus to the religious leaders
Some of the religious leaders [Pharisees] in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I …
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites.” ~Jesus
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues …
Hypocrisy – What it is, why it is evil and hated by Jesus
Hypocrisy is an outward pretense masking an inner reality. Jesus condemns hypocrisy, especially in matters of faith. Followers of Jesus …
Everything Jesus had to say about the homeless, wealth, prosperity, poverty, riches, the poor, the needy and giving
Jesus had a lot to say about the homeless, wealth, prosperity, poverty, riches, the poor, the needy and giving. Here …
“When you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others.” ~Jesus
“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and …
“Beware … ” ~Jesus — What the New Testament has to say on deception by religions leaders
This is a series of quotes to emphasize the seriousness of deception and our responsibility to look out for it …
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” ~Jesus
How much of what I do “for Jesus” is done to be seen by others? Probably too much. Jesus is …
“I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!” ~Jesus
Jesus is clear. There will be a day of judgement. We may prefer to believe it isn’t true but it …
“Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation.” ~Jesus
Jesus has some great news, for some of us. That is not always what we hear or want to hear. …
“So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith.” ~Apostle Peter
In God’s world, He wants me to be mature in my faith. I must focus on building not standing still …
“I’m working for the Lord, and even though the Lord’s pay isn’t very high, his retirement program is.” ~~George Foreman
You have to love George Foreman. I’ve met him a couple of times and he is the real deal. Who …
“Death is the reward of an undisciplined life; your foolish decisions trap you in a dead end.” ~King Solomon
Jesus challenges me to be careful about the decisions I make. I must be disciplined in my approach to following …
“I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” ~Joseph
Joseph had been in jail a long time. Pharaoh put him there. But now, all of the sudden, Pharaoh needed …
“Progress always involves risk; you can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first.” ~~Frederick Wilcox
We must step out and take a stand. Jesus challenges us and we know it is true. What if I …
Is my obedience not so much out of love as it is out of carefulness? “Just tell me what to do, God, and I’ll do it.”
Jesus told of the man who entrusted three of his servants with thousands of dollars, urging them to handle his …
"Salvation is not a reward for the righteous, it is a gift for the guilty." ~~Steve Lawson
I have been given a gift. I didn’t earn it at all. I can do nothing to deserve it. I …
“Those who curse you will be cursed, those who bless you will be blessed.” ~Isaac
Jesus gives us power. I have power to bless and I have power to curse. I must be careful. I must choose …
“Are you living for-Today or are you living in-Forever?” ~Francis Chan
Are you living for-Today or are you living in-Forever? Is your life bringing Regret or Reward? In this 5-Minute Message, …
The problem with putting it all on the line for Jesus is …..
The problem with putting it all on the line for Jesus… is that it might not work out. The problem …
“Don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith .” ~Apostle Peter
God has a goal for us. God, through his victorious son Jesus, wants us to build on the foundation of …
“Here’s the reward I have for every conqueror.” ~Jesus
We live a life building on what we’ve been given, complementing our basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate …
What is the new plan?
So God had an old plan before the new one. It was the plan based on following lots of rules …
“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus the Messiah.” ~Apostle Paul
There is a whole lot of shaking going on. It isn’t about the economy or politics. The shaking is God’s …
"Blessings accrue on a good and honest life, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse." ~King Solomon
It seems conventional wisdom is that there is no reward for a good and honest life. There is the eternal …
"My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into trouble." ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges us to be radically different from most Christians and religious types of people. It will get us in …
"God is solid backing to a well-lived life, but he calls into question a shabby performance." ~King Solomon
There is no “coasting along” in God’s world (Kingdom). God has given us talents. God expects us to live the life He …
“God Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.” ~Jesus
Sometimes I am so very tempted to get upset with the “ungrateful”. OK, truth be told, I do get upset. …
“Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please!” ~Apostle Paul
Our God is. He is now. His promise is now. His presence is now. He is!! The future is going …
"God rewards those who seek him. Not those who seek doctrine or religion or systems or creeds." ~~Max Lucado
Jesus is clear. God’s goal for us is to seek God. If we seek God, we will find Him. There …
"Count on this: The wicked won’t get off scot-free, and God’s loyal people will triumph." ~~King Solomon
Sometimes it seems like doing the right thing is not being rewarded. Solomon reminds us this isn’t true. God is …
"Good character is the best insurance; crooks get trapped in their sinful lust." ~~King Solomon
Good character is important. Doing the right thing, God’s thing, makes all the difference. Solomon’s dad understood that following what …
” You have need of endurance.” ~~Apostle Paul
Many of our struggles about faith have to do with timing. We believe, at least in theory that God will …
“Don’t just do what you have to do to get by. Work heartily.” ~~Apostle Paul
My work is not for myself. My work is for our God. That allows me to have an amazing attitude …
The Digital Ministry: Are you ready for the journey? Your passion for Jesus and His disciples can turn you into a hero
You have a passion for Jesus. You want to do the right thing for His disciples. You believe in a …
