Hello Brother Kevin,
YES, this is a beautiful thread, one that I would definitely like to visit again. I would like to say a little bit more about "P" - "Prize".
Most Christians love JESUS enough to know that we have already been given riches in CHRIST that are greater than the world can imagine. I would hope that most Christians press on toward a higher calling for CHRIST and strive not for additional riches and rewards that are promised for Christians. We know that rewards are promised, but trying to imagine what they might be, over and above our Salvation and spiritual riches in CHRIST, is difficult to imagine.
1 - I would hope that just running the race because we love JESUS should be more than enough, but there is more.
2 - Just the thought that the KING OF KINGS would use us, work in us, and work through us should humble us and give us great joy, but there is more.
3 - If we continue to strive simply because we love JESUS, GOD has promised another PRIZE, REWARDS that only GOD can give, all that are beyond human imagination.
1 Corinthians 9:23-25 NASB I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
Philippians 3:14 NASB I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Brother, there is a beautiful comparison here that I want to talk about. Many men spend most of their lives in striving for and struggling for perishable THINGS of this world. Those THINGS are corruptible and mean absolutely nothing. When we leave this short life, we won't be taking any of these trinkets home with us. They are worthless and will be left behind, and whatever time that was spent in obtaining them was wasted. We take our Spiritual Riches in CHRIST with us when we claim our Citizenship in Heaven. FIRST, we didn't work for Salvation, as that can never be earned and must be a GIFT, but we bring this imperishable GIFT with us. Second, all of the time that we spent in good works for others ONLY because of our Love of JESUS and wanting to Glorify HIM will be considered by GOD for eternal Rewards. An eternity of Joy and Peace with JESUS is more than we could ever imagine, but there is MORE. We don't know what the REWARDS will be, but they will only be given if we DIDN'T work for them. Our work MUST have been SOLELY because we Love JESUS.
We know that the promises of GOD are so sure that they can be considered to be ALREADY DONE. In terms of PRIZE, here is something beautiful for all Christians to know. When we accepted JESUS CHRIST as our LORD and SAVIOUR, we were quickened (translated) into the Kingdom of GOD'S Dear Son right then. We have already been delivered, and we are eternal possessions of JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF. Even during this short life here, we should wake up every morning with JOY in the sure knowledge that we are Children of the KING. Whatever else is hard or harsh in this short life is nothing in comparision to what we have already been given by our precious LORD and SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST.
Ephesians 2:1 NASB And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
Ephesians 2:2 NASB in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
Ephesians 2:3 NASB Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
Ephesians 2:4 NASB But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
Ephesians 2:5 NASB even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Ephesians 2:6 NASB and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Ephesians 2:7 NASB so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:8 NASB For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
Ephesians 2:9 NASB not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:10 NASB For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
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1 Peter 3:18 NASB For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
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Romans 8:16 NASB The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
Romans 8:17 NASB and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Romans 8:18 NASB For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
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Brother, much has already been done, and much is ALREADY OURS in JESUS CHRIST, our LORD and SAVIOUR forever. Thus, each new morning should be "This is another wonderful day that the LORD has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it."
Love In Christ,
Tom
Colossians 2:8-10 NASB See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;
AMEN!!!! AND AMEN!!! AND AMEN!!!!!!!
