Long-Range Dividends

 
There are times in our life when Christians might pursue the lusts of the flesh and step outside of their fellowship of God. They eat the bread of idleness and wickedness (Proverbs 31:27, 4:17). Then they reap the bread of affliction and adversity (1 Kings 22:27; Isaiah 30:20). As a result, they end up eating the bitter bread of the tears and sorrows of the mourner (Psalm 80:5, 127:2; Hosea 9:4).

There are consequences of our sins, even as Believers. Sin robs us, and it always inflicts negative, long-range dividends on us. God promises to chastise those whom He loves. We can rejoice when this happens, because it proves that we are sons and not without God's Spirit within us (Hebrews 12:7). We actually learn to forgive others because God forgives us.

Jesus taught His disciples to forgive seventy times seven times (Matthew 18:21-23). This is not a limiting number, but shows the limitless love and forgiveness God has for us. When we come to Christ through salvation, we no longer live life our way, because we are now dead and hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). We live in union with the Father, Son and Spirit (John 10:30).


We are dead and buried with Him, but also raised in Him to a whole new life (Romans 6:4). Jesus took our sin nature and nailed it to the cross, paying the penalty of our sins for us. Now, Christ lives through us and we express His righteousness in our lives (Romans 3:14). We no longer live for our self, but for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:15), because Jesus is the source of our spiritual life.


Christ in us unites us with the Kingdom of God, which gives us light and love, even in the darkest trial we may traverse in this world (1 Chronicles 16:34). The will of God should set the course for our life and determine the choices we make (Ephesians 2:10). Christ in us is our hope of living in glory with God both now and throughout eternity (Colossians 1:27), which pays great dividends.


Prayer:

Lord Jesus, the entire world was created through You (Ephesians 3:9), and only in You does anything exist. You hold everything together (Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:17). This proves that You are not far from any one of us; especially if we live, move and have our existence in You (Acts 17:27-28). We learn to love, because You first loved us enough to suffer and die for us (1 John 4:19). You died, but You live again both in heaven and in all of Your Saints. This is the most convincing evidence that You are our God.


Thought for the Day:

When we love the basest person on earth; we are, in fact, loving Christ, and reaping His rewards. – Matthew 25:31-46