ASSURANCE OF MY REWARD

By Shari Tyson

I enjoy reading various translations of Scripture. I appreciate the different ways people interpret the Word, knowing I can trust the Author, Holy Spirit, to lead me into the full truth of what He intends. The other day, I read Ephesians 2:8-10 from the New Living Translation. It says,

“God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

My heart grabbed hold of “Salvation is not a reward for the good things you have done…” 

Therein lays the beauty of grace. God’s salvation—His peace, well-being, prosperity, health, wholeness—is a gift to me. Nothing I do can qualify me to receive it. It is never dependent upon what I did or do; it is and always will be dependent upon what Christ did.

That made me think of Hebrews 11:6, “…he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

How easily we can mix law with grace. If I think that I have to go to church, tithe, pray, read the Bible, don’t cuss and chew and run with those who do, WHATEVER, to receive God’s blessings, I have mixed the law with grace. I used to mix law with grace in my understanding of Heb. 11:6, but Holy Spirit has graciously interpreted this verse to me and given me a “grace perspective.”

If I am going to be able to diligently seek God, to draw near to Him, I am going to have to believe two things. First, He exists and He is who He says He is…LOVE. Second, He has reward in His heart and hands for me, not judgment. I will only be able to get close to Him when I believe He is good and has good in store for me.

Under law, God’s blessings depended upon the people’s obedience. Under grace, His blessings are dependent upon Christ’s obedience. I believe that’s why we are exhorted to bring our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). If I look at my obedience, I will condemn myself because I see my failures. But if I look to His obedience, I see perfection. When that revelation is mine, my heart’s desire is to fellowship with my church family, give from the finances with which He has blessed me, talk to Him in prayer, and meet Him in His Word.

Grace frees me to see God as the rewarder He truly is and allows me to rest in the obedience of Christ for all the blessings of the covenant. It pleased Him to bruise His Son (Isa. 53:10) because it is His pleasure to give us the kingdom (Luke 12:32)…no strings attached…except that I confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead. 

Isaiah 32:17—“The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.”

 Shari Tyson leads the nursery ministry at Abundant Life Covenant Church.