Everyone likes to be rewarded. My youngest and I found these delicate desserts after a morning of much running around. They appeared to be the perfect reward for the two of us, after all we had both been on our best behaviour this grocery day.
Life doesn’t guarantee just rewards. Many a time in our lives we will face great frustration in how things work out, stories end often not to our liking… Not what we expect when we consider our ‘good behaviour’. We all naturally have a very selfish idea of what rewards we should receive and when, but what we too easily forget is that it is only by the grace of God that we DON’T get what we deserve. He is good. He faithfully loves us, even when we are unfaithful. He continues to teach us ignoring our impatience and immaturity. Gifts us with things beyond our human nature, real treasures that truly bless our lives, such as joy and faithfulness.
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
Praise God if these things are “being added” to you and your local Church community(ies). We have not earned them, they are given in grace! Jesus knows what we need.
~Galatians 5:22, 23~ ( NLT)
All things Christ works for good as we live in him. And yet we often look forward to heaven with a fleshly gaze, after he has been patiently leading us toward the selfless life in His Spirit. We read the verses speaking of treasures in heaven, we think of our ultimate rewards, and in our immaturity can think of them as things that are similar to the treasures of this temporary world… thinking of gold and mansions… selfish gain.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
~Matthew 6:19-21~ (NIV)
This idea of reward should be challenged, for our call as Christians is not just to believe and wait for the rewards. We are to love God and love one another. Putting this reminder into the mix makes it easier to understand that our Lord should be the treasure we seek, the treasure we sacrifice all for. We will then find it easier to see any other man or woman as treasures as well. Indeed by working for Christ’s kingdom and in his Spirit, obeying the call to make disciples of him, we will store up such treasures in heaven.
It would break my heart if my boy ‘loved’ me for the cupcake rewards I provide. I want him to put myself and his other family members above his desires for inanimate objects. I truly feel God expects the same.
Always Lady Mac an Rothaich
TTFN
