In His Name Devotionals
REWARD
In His Name Devotionals
REWARD
“He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV)
It’s impossible to please God without faith. And, the first step in faith is believing that God exists. In addition, you must also believe that He answers your prayers—more specifically, that He redeems those who come to Him in obedient faith.
God’s Holy Word repeatedly points out that God not only can be found, but He desires to be found. David said to Solomon, his son, “If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever” (1 Chronicles 28:9). The Lord says, “You will seek Me and find Me” (Jeremiah 29:13). Jesus said, “Everyone who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks it shall be opened” (Luke 11:10).
At first glance those above verses may seem to contradict Paul’s teaching that “there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside” (Romans 3:11-12) and Jesus’ statement that no one can come to Him unless the Father “draws” him (John 6:44). But really they are two sides of the same theological coin.
On one side, man is seen as obediently believing God and being baptized into Christ for salvation. On the other, God is seems enabling man to do so. Prior to salvation, a person is spiritually dead and utterly incapable of responding to the Gospel. God must grant him or her saving faith. That’s why the Scriptures contain statement like, “To you it has been granted for Christ’s sake...to believe in Him” (Philippians 1:29); “As many as had been appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48); and “The Lord opened (Lydia’s) heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul” (Acts 16:14).
God is the Great Rewarder, extending His love and grace to all who call upon Him. “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed” (Romans 10:11).
