Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 30

January 30;      Revelation 2:23;       240/260(III);        ‘Your Works’

Revelation 2:23…….all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

It is very clear that we are not saved by works.  It is also very clear that we were created by the Lord for good works (Ephesians 2:9).  Though our good works do not save us, we are saved by the blood of Jesus, good works are a vital part of our Christian life.  Good works are an excellent witness to others that we love Jesus.  Jesus, in chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation is writing to the Pastors of the seven churches.  First, the Pastor and the church are commended for what they do right and then the Lord corrects the Pastor and the church for what is going on in that church.  Jesus makes a statement in this verse concerning all seven churches.  He knows what is going on in our mind and spirit.  I am convinced He is interested in whether or not we are renewing our mind with the Word of God.  The Lord knows what we are thinking about and what occupies our thoughts much of the time.  Jesus knows what we fill our spirit with.  Obviously what is in our spirit has to come through our mind.  The two work together.  What you think about and what your spirit is full of greatly affects our works, what we do for the kingdom of God.  At the Judgment Seat of Christ, we will be rewarded for our works.  Our seriousness regarding the things of God will bless us eternally in the sense of what the Lord would privilege us to do eternally or our role will be minimal based on our priorities for our life differing from the Lord’s.  “Well done” is what all want to hear.