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Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
God not only seeks after us, but he also desires a relationship with us — he longs for us to seek after him and after matters that are important to him. When we persistently seek his glory by doing good deeds and seek eternal values rather than temporal things, he is overjoyed to give us what he has always designed for us: eternal life with him and influence on others for good. In other words, the seeking God is always looking for those seeking him!
My Prayer…
Abba Father, thank you for loving me when I was lost and sinned. Thank you for not just loving me but also seeking me by sending Jesus. Thank you for your justice that you met with your grace in your Son Jesus. I confess that I sometimes get distracted and upset with things that don’t matter very much. Please bless me as I seek to discipline my heart and focus my desires on eternal things as I seek your glory and honor in how I conduct my life. I find it reassuring, Father, that your desire to bless me with eternal life is still even greater than my pursuit of it. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.
Bible References
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Romans 2:6-7
God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life.
If we take Romans 2 verses 6-11 by themselves apart from the rest of Scripture, it would be easy to conclude that our salvation and eternal life are earned by good works. But this is not the case. The Word of God never contradicts itself. There are 150 passages in the New Testament that state that salvation is based on faith or believing alone. In fact, one of those verses is Romans 10:9-10…If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
What does this passage mean then? First, we must understand that good works according to God, do not even begin until a person has been born again. There are many unsaved people who do good works, but they are good works according to this worlds standard, not God’s. In God’s eyes it is only through the blood of Christ that anyone can truly do good, only through the Holy Spirit that indwells all who place their faith in Jesus.
In explaining that God will repay each person according to what they have done, Paul is saying that those who by doing good seek glory, honor and immortality already have the Spirit of God in them for no one would or could live this kind of life without divine power. The fact that one seeks these things is shown in the whole quality of their daily lives, they have already been converted. Their goal is to live for the eternal not the temporal! They seek the honor and glory that only comes from God (John 5:44), the immortality that comes in the resurrection body (1Corithinans 15:53-54), and the heavenly inheritance, which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading (1 Peter 1:4). Since they show by their seeking good works that they are saved, they are given eternal life.
We all know people who believe that if their good works outweigh their bad deeds when they die they will go to heaven. What they do not realize is that their best “work” outside of Christ is worthless to save them! It is only through faith in Christ first, that any good works we do are of any value to God.
My wonderful Lord Jesus, thank You for dying for my sins on the cross at Calvary! No good work I could ever do would save my soul, only your precious blood has the power to redeem me to God. My hearts goal is to live for You each and every day that You grant me life and to bring You honor and glory! I love You so my Redeemer and give You all praise this day, Amen!