Today’s devotion comes from Ephesians 6:1-9.
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.
And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.” Ephesians 6:1-9.
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First, whatever we do, we should do it well considering that we ultimately serve the Lord. In other words, we may have supervisors and managers like masters and fathers, but we have Only One Owner and He is Christ Whom we need to ultimately please.
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:17
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,” Colossians 3:23
Second, there are rewards for good service: “knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. “HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.”
We may think that we are too good and too mature to need a reward to motivate us, but an expectation of a reward is an element of faith. “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6.
Scripture is full of promises of rewards. We should not ignore promises of rewards nor dismiss such promises of rewards too quickly as only “prosperity gospel”.
“After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.”
Deuteronomy 11:1
[Rewards of Obedience – see particularly verses 8-15]
[Rewards of Obedience – see particularly verses 8-15]
“You shall therefore love the LORD your God, and always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments.”
Ruth 2:12
“May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”
“May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”
2 Samuel 22:21
“The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.”
“The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.”
2 Chronicles 15:7
“But you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.”
“But you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.”
Psalm 18:20
“The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.”
“The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.”
Psalm 19:11
“Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.”
“Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.”
Psalm 58:11
“And men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely there is a God who judges on earth!”
“And men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely there is a God who judges on earth!”
Psalm 127:3
“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.”
“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.”
Proverbs 3:1
[The Rewards of Wisdom – see the whole chapter]
[The Rewards of Wisdom – see the whole chapter]
“My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments;”
“Honor the LORD from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;
And from the first of all your produce;
So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10.
And your vats will overflow with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10.
Proverbs 11:18
“The wicked earns deceptive wages, But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.”
“The wicked earns deceptive wages, But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.”
Proverbs 11:31
“If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth, How much more the wicked and the sinner!”
“If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth, How much more the wicked and the sinner!”
Proverbs 13:13
“The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.”
“The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.”
Proverbs 13:21
“Adversity pursues sinners, But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.”
“Adversity pursues sinners, But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.”
Proverbs 22:4
“The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.”
“The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.”
Ecclesiastes 5:18
“Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.”
“Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.”
Ecclesiastes 5:19
“Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.”
“Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.”
Ecclesiastes 9:9
“Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.”
“Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.”
Isaiah 40:10
“Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him And His recompense before Him.”
“Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him And His recompense before Him.”
Isaiah 56:1
[Rewards for Obedience to God – see particularly verses 1-7]
[Rewards for Obedience to God – see particularly verses 1-7]
“Thus says the LORD, “Preserve justice and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come And My righteousness to be revealed.”
Isaiah 62:11
“Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth, Say to the daughter of Zion, “Lo, your salvation comes; Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.”
“Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth, Say to the daughter of Zion, “Lo, your salvation comes; Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.”
Jeremiah 31:16
“Thus says the LORD, “Restrain your voice from weeping And your eyes from tears; For your work will be rewarded,” declares the LORD, “And they will return from the land of the enemy.”
“Thus says the LORD, “Restrain your voice from weeping And your eyes from tears; For your work will be rewarded,” declares the LORD, “And they will return from the land of the enemy.”
Malachi 3:10
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”
Matthew 5:12
“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 6:4
“so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
“so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 6:6
“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 6:18
“so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
“so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 10:40
[The Reward of Service ]
[The Reward of Service ]
“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
Matthew 10:41
“He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.”
“He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.”
Matthew 10:42
“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.”
“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.”
“Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.” Matthew 19:27-29.
Luke 6:23
“Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.”
“Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.”
Luke 6:35
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.”
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.”
1 Corinthians 3:8
“Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”
“Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”
1 Corinthians 3:14
“If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.”
“If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.”
Colossians 3:24
“knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
“knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Hebrews 10:35
“Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.”
“Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.”
Hebrews 11:26
“considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.”
“considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.”
2 John 1:8
“Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.”
“Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.”
Revelation 11:18
“And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
“And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
Revelation 22:12
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”
In conclusion, the rewards are given to us as a gift by God’s grace, not as wages earned by us on our own merit. First, by God’s grace, we are God’s workmanship; God prepared beforehand those good works for us to do. Ephesians 2:10. Second, by God’s grace, God gave us special gifts (or skills) to do those good works. Ephesians 4:7-13. Third, by God’s grace, God gave us the willpower to do those good works, and God worked within us to accomplish those good works. Philippians 2:13. Fourth, by God’s grace, the rewards are much more generous than what could possibly be proportionately considered by the quantity and quality of our good works (“not worthy to be compared”). Romans 8:18. The following Question and Answer 63 of the Heidelberg Catechism provides a fitting summary and conclusion.
Question 63. What! do not our good works merit, which yet God will reward in this and in a future life?
Answer. This reward is not of merit, but of grace.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 