Christians have different opinions about grace. Others think that we have too much of it, and some believe we do not have any of it.
I believe that grace is sufficient, but like what Daniel and Johnny (main characters of the hit show Cobra Kai) learned in running their Dojos, you can never be too extreme. We must find the right balance between faith and actions to succeed in life.
Below is my devotional reading for the week:
Romans 2:13
13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
My key takeaway from the verse is that the grace of God abounds, but we should never downplay doing good works.
James 2:26
New International Version
26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
I believe that Jesus completed the work of salvation for us. I also think that our deeds will not help our salvation or improve God's love for us.
However, the Bible clearly states the following concepts:
Obedience has rewards
Sin has consequences
I will discuss them in detail.
Obedience Has Rewards
Luke 11:28
English Standard Version
28 But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"
Isaiah 1:19
English Standard Version
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you shall eat the good of the land.
Exodus 23:22
English Standard Version
22 But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.
The verses above tell us about these rewards:
Blessings from heaven
These blessings could be divine favour, opportunities, good health, healing, and peace.
Eat the good of the land.
This phrase is what some scholars say as blameless prosperity. The wealth that does not give you sorrow. Abundance with peace in our hearts.
Protection from enemies
God will fight for us when we obey, when God is with us in battle, victory upon us.
There are many verses about the rewards for obedience. I cannot mention them all, but rest assured that God sees your efforts to do good.
Sin Has Consequences
Romans 6:23
English Standard Version
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Death in the verse above could mean many things. First, the verse points out spiritual death, which means men will go to hell after we die.
The verse also covers physical, mental, emotional, and social death.
For example, if you do not take care of your body, you will die physically. If you lie all the time, you will die socially. If you dwell on negativity, you will break mentally and emotionally.
Sin separates man from God. Even Christians can feel distant from God when there is sin. God does not change, but sin opens doors of condemnation and guilt that makes us think that God does not care for us anymore.
Do It for Jesus
Most of the time, we need someone who will motivate us to reach for our dreams.
If we need a reason to do good, I say let us do good because of Jesus.
Like what I said above, we will go to hell when we die. However, because Jesus loves us so much, He sacrificed His life on the cross and went to hell for us. He was powerful enough to break the power of hell and come back to life after three days. He also fulfilled all the commands in the Bible for us.
Now, we only need to have a personal relationship with Jesus, and we are free from hell.
Let us Sum it Up
Doing good is not going to benefit God. He already has everything. “Doing good” benefits us because we will receive rewards for following Jesus.
Obeying Jesus also keeps us from the consequences of sin like the feeling of guilt and condemnation.
When we need a reason to do good, let us think about Jesus. He is the only person worthy because He loves us perfectly.
Prayer of Salvation
Friend, if you want to know Jesus, but you are unsure of your standing in faith, say this prayer. God sees your heart, so say the words with conviction and faith.
"Father, I am a sinner. Forgive my sins. I believe that Jesus died on the cross so I could live fully on earth and in heaven. Change my heart and mind according to your will. This I pray, in the mighty Name of Jesus, amen."
Friend, if you prayed this prayer in faith, I believe you have set things right with God.
If you want to grow in faith, find a Bible-based church. You can also reach out to me through my social media platforms and this website, www.high3r.com. I would love to hear from you.
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