Do you watch HGTV Design shows? I tape shows and FF through to the end. I'm only interested in the BIG REVEAL. You know they take the couple down the hall and into their new Master Bedroom & Bathroom. The woman covers her mouth and then keeps repeating, "I don't believe it, I don't believe it". The husband says it's all great and thanks the designer for including a huge plasma TV.
The BIG REVEAL always makes me think of 1 Corinthians 3:14. 1Cr 3:14 If anyone's work which he has built on [it] endures, he will receive a reward.
Are you ready for the BIG REVEAL? Do you want your life to count forever? We all do. But from time to time we forget and start focusing on more immediate goals.
When that happens it's good to remember the fire. What fire you ask?
Here's a passage from 1 Corinthians 3 that explains what we are all suppose to be doing---as Christians.
The apostle Paul uses a division currently happening in the church to teach the greater truth about work and reward in the Christian life. The dispute was over which team was better: Team Paul or Team Apollos.
1 Corinthians 3:5-15 Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, [you are] God's building.
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if anyone builds on this foundation [with] gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.
If anyone's work which he has built on [it] endures, he will receive a reward.
If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Here's a breakdown of the Key points Paul made:
*We are all God's fellow workers, in other words, we aren't in this alone. We're partnering with God (v.9) and we are not in competition with each other.
*God works on people, not projects. (v.9) He sees you as an individual and loves you. He wants to work with you in bringing others closer to Him.
*The foundation is salvation through faith in the sacrifice of Christ for our sins. (v.11) Every other work of God flows from this foundational work.
*We can choose our own building materials. Gold, silver, & precious stones, or wood, hay, & straw. (v.12) *The gold, silver, and precious stones are perfected by fire. The wood, hay, and straw are consumed by it. (v.13)
*The BIG REVEAL will show what we each chose.
These are the questions I ask myself when I want to see what I've been building with.
Do I love God? Do I care about people? Am I willing to use my time and energy, i.e. my life to work with God and make His plan my priority?
Do I look for ways to make opportunities for sharing with people?
Ephesians 5:15-17 reminds me to live carefully, open my eyes to opportunities, and be led by the Holy Spirit.
Am I letting the life & light of Jesus shine through me? Jesus prayed for people, he taught them the truth, and he ministered to their needs. Am I doing the same?
One day at a time.
The BIG REVEAL always makes me think of 1 Corinthians 3:14. 1Cr 3:14 If anyone's work which he has built on [it] endures, he will receive a reward.
Are you ready for the BIG REVEAL? Do you want your life to count forever? We all do. But from time to time we forget and start focusing on more immediate goals.
When that happens it's good to remember the fire. What fire you ask?
Here's a passage from 1 Corinthians 3 that explains what we are all suppose to be doing---as Christians.
The apostle Paul uses a division currently happening in the church to teach the greater truth about work and reward in the Christian life. The dispute was over which team was better: Team Paul or Team Apollos.
1 Corinthians 3:5-15 Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, [you are] God's building.
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if anyone builds on this foundation [with] gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.
If anyone's work which he has built on [it] endures, he will receive a reward.
If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Here's a breakdown of the Key points Paul made:
*We are all God's fellow workers, in other words, we aren't in this alone. We're partnering with God (v.9) and we are not in competition with each other.
*God works on people, not projects. (v.9) He sees you as an individual and loves you. He wants to work with you in bringing others closer to Him.
*The foundation is salvation through faith in the sacrifice of Christ for our sins. (v.11) Every other work of God flows from this foundational work.
*We can choose our own building materials. Gold, silver, & precious stones, or wood, hay, & straw. (v.12) *The gold, silver, and precious stones are perfected by fire. The wood, hay, and straw are consumed by it. (v.13)
*The BIG REVEAL will show what we each chose.
These are the questions I ask myself when I want to see what I've been building with.
Do I love God? Do I care about people? Am I willing to use my time and energy, i.e. my life to work with God and make His plan my priority?
Do I look for ways to make opportunities for sharing with people?
Ephesians 5:15-17 reminds me to live carefully, open my eyes to opportunities, and be led by the Holy Spirit.
Am I letting the life & light of Jesus shine through me? Jesus prayed for people, he taught them the truth, and he ministered to their needs. Am I doing the same?
One day at a time.
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