Hebrews 6:12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Salvation is by grace through faith, (Ephesians 2:8-10) but we are not to be passive about it. We cannot earn God’s love and everything that flows from it, but we are to respond to it actively. As a father I can understand this. My love for my children has never varied with their level of obedience or rebellion, but I dare say their awareness of my love has certainly varied. The more active we are in responding to God’s love and grace, the more we actually are aware of it and enjoy it. God knows how He made us, and He never asks of us more than He has given to us. It is in returning to God what He has given, in obedient, wholehearted service, that we are opened up to receive an ever-increasing flow of His grace and blessings. We see this principle in operation all the time: those who make the effort get the satisfaction, the reward. As it says in verse 10, God is not unjust; He rewards our faithfulness abundantly. The catch here is that sometimes the rewards are delayed, at least from our perspective, just as at times the punishment for sin seems to be delayed. When God told Adam and Eve they would surely die (Genesis 2:17) that did not kick in the moment they tasted the fruit, at least not physically. (It did spiritually though.) That didn’t change the fact that they died. Sometimes we feel God has overlooked our labors for Him. When we feel that way we need to first examine our motives. Were we working in obedience to God because He is worthy of total obedience, or were we doing our own thing and demanding God pay us for it? If the right answer comes up, then we simply need to remember and trust God’s faithfulness, and rest assured that abundant reward will come in due time. (1 Peter 5:6)

I’ve certainly experienced this in spades. There have been times when the devil has whispered, “What’s the use?” I can say with assurance that there is every reason to be faithful to God, because He has been totally faithful to me. I wish I could say I’ve never been lazy in my faith and obedience, but that would be far short of the truth. My life has been a testimony to the faithfulness of God, and I am grateful. Accordingly, I am to seek to draw others into right relationship with Him, acting and speaking in obedience to Him, so that He may be pleased with me. I want many to join me in inheriting all that God has prepared for us!

Father, thank You for all that You have done, all that You are doing day by day and moment by moment, all that You will do in the future. Your love, grace, and faithfulness are indeed amazing! Help me respond fully, consistently, so that Your will may be done in and through me for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!