A Full Reward - Daily Devotional May 27th, 2010

Bible Reading - Numbers 36, Psalm 80, Isaiah 28, 2 John 1

A Full Reward

The books of 1st, 2nd and 3rd John are packed full of so much wisdom. I am loving reading through this portion of our plan together. Here in 2 John 8 the verse reads, "Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward". We are encouraged here to watch our lives to make sure that what we do is done in a Biblical way so that we do not loose out on the full reward.

I think it is safe to say that if there is a "full reward" that there is probably a partial reward and no reward at all. I have to believe that all of us want a reward of some sort (I know I do) but yet too many of us are settling for the partial reward rather than the full reward. The crazy thing is this, it is not that complicated to get the full reward but rather than watching ourselves to make sure we are free from sin we begin to justify our actions to make it look like there is no sin. Sure one day we will repent but in the mean time we are willfully and knowingly minimizing our full reward.

If we look at the verses following this one we discover what it is we need to do in order to receive the full reward. 2 John 1:9 says, "Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son". In order for us to have the full reward we must obey the teachings of God which are not subject to personal interpretation though many try in order to justify their actions. The Bible was meant to be read and then lived. In the Old Testament the Jews had nearly 600 laws/teaching they had to adhere to. In Christ Jesus all those laws were summed up in Mark 12:28b-31, "Which commandment is the most important of all?" Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these".

The above verses show us what it is to follow the teachings of God. We are to love God with everything we are and have. This means living our life in a Biblical manner and doing things in such a way that brings honor to him. This also means that we are to do things in such a way that does not bring harm and pain to others. We would not want harm and pain inflicted upon us and we are to love others as we love ourselves. If we are truly abiding in the teachings of God then we will do things that bring honor to God and joy to others. This does not always mean we agree with others but rather we handle things in a way that even though we do not agree we are still in harmony and relationship with one another. When we do this we get the full reward!

We need to look at our lives today and watch ourselves. As we do we need to ask, "are we going to receive a partial reward or a full reward?" I know I want the full reward so I am doing my best today to walk in the teachings of The Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, there are times I mess up but thank God for the grace that comes through Jesus!

Are you after a full reward today?

Tomorrows Bible Reading - Deuteronomy 1, Psalm 81-82, Isaiah 29, 3 John 1

Dream Big
Ben