Me: What do you have there Prodigal?
Prodigal: An award, I was the quickest pig out of the gate!
Me: Impressive, I think you deserve that!
Prodigal: Thank you! I guess for my reward I could also use some encouragement about God.
Today I share from Chuck Swindoll in his book Hope Again When Life Hurts and Dreams Fade.
Though the world and even our fellow Christians may be impressed with and applaud our deeds, let’s not forget that God is the final judge! He searches our hearts; He alone knows our motivation. And He will be the One to say, “This deserves a reward. Ah, but that does not.”
That’s why we conduct ourselves in fear. That is why we walk in reverence. Because we know that He is checking for illegal substances. He knows whether down deep inside we have gotten sucked into the cosmos, whether we have bought into the system. He knows whether our noble acts and deeds are done out of pride and self-aggrandizement or whether they have been carried out in the power of the Spirit. He knows whether our inner, unseen thoughts and motives match our external words and works. He is pleased when our lives honor Him–inside and out. He is grieved when they do not. And it is His smile we want. It is His reward, not the reward of this world, not the applause of those around us, not the superficial spotlight of fame or power.
God sees you! He sees your heart. Yeah, I know they don’t understand over there. This is a new way and a new direction to learn. You have gotten use to the fanfare of approval from others with the applause and approving smiles. Soon you will crave the wonderful joy though of God’s which may be less noise but will fill your soul with a tender love that does not soon depart.
Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.
Jennifer Van Allen,
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
