Striving for God’s Great Reward

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

Are you striving to inherit the great reward of the Lord?

Today’s devotional reading: Philippians 3:7-4:1

The great reward of God is God Himself. To Abraham, the Lord said, “Do not be afraid. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” Afterwards, the Lord made a covenant with him, promising to give him and his descendants a land to inherit.

Like Abraham, God has promised us a land to inherit. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Whoever believes in Me will not perish, but will have everlasting life (John 3:16).” To the apostles, Jesus stated, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself.”

The Lord desires to dwell with you, but the question you must answer is whether or not you desire to dwell with Him. If you desire to do well with the Lord, you must choose to live for Him. To live for the Lord, you must seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33). This is to say that you must put God first in your life.

To live for the Lord, one must do as Paul, in that you must count the riches of the world lost, for gaining the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus. The riches of this world will pass away because this world, along with all of this creation, has an endpoint. The prize of the upward call of God, living in holiness, leads to an eternal reward.

We’re all left with a choice today of which we desire: the everlasting riches or the temporary riches of this world? May I suggest you choose the riches of God, and His everlasting peace?