Just the thought of being rewarded for some good I have done brings me a sense of anticipation. It encourages me to try harder. So does this lead me to a performance-based Christianity?

Sometimes it seems that any good we might do is canceled out by our failures making our efforts seem fruitless. 

Our abilities

Jesus wants to prevent those inevitable failures. Yes, they are inevitable because it is from our efforts. It is our resources. Flesh. If He is living through us, well, then, He doesn’t fail, right?

Apostle Paul tells us that in himself, who was the best of the best, was no good thing. In his nature, nothing good could be found. He was speaking about his ability to please God. He recognized his inadequacy. He realized that his own natural ability could not produce spiritual fruit. 

Whatever he could do would be wood, hay, and stubble which would be burned up in the end. Leaving only ashes. 

Jesus told us that without Me you can do nothing. So how do we earn crowns?

Secret to rewards

In Galatians 2:20 it reveals the secret. It isn’t me living in my body anymore. It is, yet it isn’t. I am there with Him, but He is the all important One. I am nothing compared to Him. It is Christ living through me. His Spirit animates my spirit. It is all of Him.

Nothing of us. If we can only see that we are nothing. He is everything. He is all. Then we will see clearly. We can keep our eyes on Him, expecting Him to live His life through us. We, stepping aside to be an empty vessel. He, the life of our life. Always deferring to Him and His wishes. That is God’s design. 

So these crowns “we” earn, are they really ours? I say no. They belong to Him, our Savior. The crowns we earn will be the direct result of His life in us. His Spirit living through us. His power. His love. His patience.

He is pleased. We are fulfilled, but not self-satisfied. We feel complete, but not by anything we have or have done. He completes us. 

Rewards day

So when we stand before Him at the final judgment we will have something to give Him. All honor will be His because He did it all for us. None of it is to our credit. All credit, all honor, all praise belong only to Him. He did it all for us.

Whatever crowns we get really belong to Him, and we can lay them at His feet. 

I do hope I have something to give Him. What about you?

Prayer – Holy Son of God, the source of my life, help me to allow You to live through me so I will have something to give to You when we meet in heaven.

Words to light your path this week –

2 Tim. 4:8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day..

1 Pet 5:4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. NKJV

1 Cor. 9:25 Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. NKJV

1 Corinthians 3:14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. NKJV

1 Corinthians 4:5b Then each one’s praise will come from God. NKJV

Matthew 6:4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. NKJV

Remember to take one of the above passages and meditate on it throughout your day to bring transformation to your life.