Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is that your voice, David my son?"
David replied, "Yes it is, my lord the king." And he added, "Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? Now let my lord the king listen to his servant's words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, men have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have now driven me from my share in the Lord's inheritance and have said, 'Go, serve other gods.' Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains."
Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have erred greatly."
"Here is the king's spear," David answered. "Let one of your young men come over and get it. The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord's anointed. As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble."
Then Saul said to David, "May you be blessed, my son David; you will do great things and surely triumph."
So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.
1 Samuel 26:17-25
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
David told Saul, “The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness.”
Yesterday, we looked at the reward of righteousness.
Today, we’ll examine the Lord’s rewards for faithfulness.
1. Protection.
“…for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones.” Proverbs 2:8
“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3
When we faithfully serve the Lord in every way, then we experience His faithful service as well…a faithful service that protects our ways.
For as we ever seek to faithfully follow the Lord, we know that Satan is ever present and trying to deter us. If our faith begins to stray even just a little, Satan is ready to try and step in…seeking to draw us ever further away from the only One who can help us lead a life full of righteousness and holiness…a life that is distant from sin.
Thanks be to God that He is a Shelter we can always rely on…a very faithful help in times of trouble…a Divine and Omnipotent Protector for the faithful.
2. Preservation.
“Love the Lord, all his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full.” Psalm 31:23
So what does it mean to be preserved?
Well, other translations of this verse substitute the words, “takes care of” or “”watches over” in place of preserve. Taken together, these words open the window of understanding as to what the Lord is trying to say to us.
For the faithful followers of the Lord are the ones who stay ever near to Him and invite Him into the very center of their beings…into their hearts, minds and souls. And when the Lord is fully in your heart, mind and soul, then you are ensured that you will be taken care of and watched over…faithfully preserved by the One you are faithful to.
And in a world that seems wrought with danger, it’s a comfort and peace to know we have a faithful Guardian in the Lord…there to protect and preserve us when we’re faithful to Him.
3. Love.
“Love and faithfulness meet together…” Psalm 85:10
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:36-38
If we are truly going to serve the Lord faithfully, we must do so fully…with all that we are…with all our heart, soul, mind and strength…giving Him our all as He gives us His. And when we do serve Him in full faithfulness, we discover the fullness of the love He has for us…and more richly develop our love and appreciation for Him…our faithful Lord who protects and preserves…all because He loves us.
4. Fear of the Lord.
"Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14
There is little debate that the Lord deserves and expects our full respect and devotion. After all, we wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for Him and the only reason we remain alive and sustained is because He wills that we are. For in everything, God is in control.
So when we serve Him faithfully, we are to not merely do it because we have to…but we should do it because we want to in order to display our heartfelt gratitude and reverence for the One who made our lives possible, not just in the present but eternally as well through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus.
And as we serve Him faithfully, we need not wonder what He wants from us. For His word fully instructs and is illuminated by His Holy Spirit. As long as we comply with the Lord’s wishes, then we need not fear because we are living a righteous life that He favors. But when we decide to not follow His instructions and expectations, then we should remember that we do so at a risk…because the God of all things…the all powerful, omnipotent God who rules over all things…does not take kindly to being slighted or disrespected. The faithful understand these risks and do everything in their power to live in a way that is favorable to God…serving Him in all faithfulness.
5. Blessed.
“A faithful man will be richly blessed…” Proverbs 28:20
When we serve the Lord faithfully, we experience His love, grace and mercy to the fullest…and this brings our lives to a place that is dominated by joy and happiness…contentment and peace. What an awesome life it is when we get to experience the full measure of His blessings!
So what rewards do we gain from our decision to follow the Lord faithfully?
Protection, preservation, love, full respect and reverence for the Lord and all of the Lord’s richest blessings.
There is no doubt that we are required to be faithful if we are truly going to call ourselves God followers…and there’s equally no doubt that the only way we can fully be faithful God followers is to follow and emulate the life of His Son Jesus, the only One who ever lived perfectly…the only One who is The Way and The Truth and The Life…and the only One through we which we can come to the Father by.
Yes…God’s word tells us that He rewards righteousness and faithfulness…and we have examined the scriptures which reveal the rewards we can expect.
But let us never forget that God’s greatest reward came through Him offering His Son Jesus to die on the cross in our place. And given this truth, the least we can do is show our gratitude by living as Jesus did…and in doing so, living a life that is as close to perfect righteousness and faithfulness that we can get…a righteousness and faithfulness that the Lord favors and rewards. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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