August 3, 2026, the 215th day of 2026
Above and Beyond is Where Rewards Come In
When we do just what is required of us, being a servant of our Lord and King Jesus, we have nothing to really brag ab... View MoreAugust 3, 2026, the 215th day of 2026
Above and Beyond is Where Rewards Come In
When we do just what is required of us, being a servant of our Lord and King Jesus, we have nothing to really brag about. We have done our duty.
This teaching of Jesus brings it out really well. They may have been asking to have their faith increased, but they obvipusly needed to learn about their duty as well, because right after He explains that the size of faith is not the problem, so increasing the size was not the answer.
It is a living faith, a seed full of potential, which He explains in other places. A seed is living and has enormous growth potential when planted. A planted pebble would not do such a thing, even larger than that tiny mustard seed.
Faith in the life of a servant, needs to be in compliance with the will of their master, not their will.
We need to ask ourselves if we want our faith to grow so we can be a better servant, doing more than we are commanded to? To go above and beyond what is required of a servant?
Or do we want greater faith to get things we want? Commanding others and nature itself to our whims?
"And the apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith.' So the Lord said, 'If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘"Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea," and it would obey you. And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, "Come at once and sit down to eat" But will he not rather say to him, "Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink". Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, "We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do."'"
Luke 17:5-10
In becoming a subject in the Kingdom of God, through repentance and completely surrendering our life and our all to the Lordship, the Kingship of Jesus, Gd makes of us a new creation in that instant, not only forgiving the debt of sin against us, but giving us eternal life.
If we never got another thing from God, it would be more than enough to praise Him and rejoice for all of eternity! But He wants more for us. He wants us to earn eternal rewards as well, and He gives us chances to excell in righteousness through our service.
Jesus, our Master, determines what is our duty and what is above and beyond it. He obeyed God in everything required of Him, above and beyond over and over again, and He is our example.
This eternal life that Jesus paid for with His suffering and death, was not our doing.
We did not deserve it. We could not earn it. That was all on Jesus. All we did was accept His gift on His terms, to put it into effect. And those terms mean that He bought us and that we are His.
"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in you, Whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
I Corinthians 6:19-20
But in our slavery, we are freed from the hold of Satan on us. God owns us, and God does not abandon His own to the enemy!
Satan is a cruel, uncaring master, who only cares for his desires. He uses his slaves to steal, kill and destroy, twisting all that is good and of the image of God in them. Satan hates and would have hatred rule the hearts of mankind.
We don't really realize this until we enter into God's Kingdom through salvation, where love rules and reigns over us, even to the point of adopting us into His household and calling us His children.
If we try to accept the gift of salvation on our terms, it will not take. We may call ourself a Christian, but we are doomed to hear Jesus say, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"
"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Matthew 7:21-23
Stay strong! First be sure of your salvation and then be sure you go above and beyond what is required of you as a servant of Jesus, if you want to earn eternal rewards.
NAN
