“Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in
Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in
the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.”
2CHRON.26:3-4
Doing what is right in the sight of God is important because He is the ultimate rewarder.
“After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be
afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” Gen.15:1. The reward
from the Lord is not just great but exceedingly great. God made this promise to
Abraham. Because we are the seed of Abraham through the ultimate prize Jesus paid in
His death and resurrection this promise belongs to us. Rewards are different from
grace. Grace of God is free or unmerited and is available to everyone. “ For the grace of
God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,” Titus 2:11. “Now to him who works,
the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.” Rom.4:4.
“And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But
if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.” Rom.11:6
Unlike grace, reward is for work done. ““And behold, I am coming quickly, and My
reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Rev.22:12. “For we must
all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the
things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
2Cor.5:10. “who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: Rom.2:6. One
important characteristic of a believer who does what is right in the sight of God is that
he or she lives with purpose and this purpose is to please the Lord in all things. “So I
run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.” 1Cor.9:26 NLT.
Another characteristic of such believers is that they esteem earthly things lightly when
compared to spiritual or eternal things. “By faith Moses, when he became of age,
refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction
with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the
reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the
reward.” Heb.11:24-26.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
God is please with a person who steps into the open void with nothing underneath him
but the word of God.