Seek God’s Rewards - God is the Great Rewarder, extending His love and grace to all who call upon Him. Without faith it is impossible to please God. The first step in faith is believing that God exists. We must also believe that He answers our prayers. Scripture repeatedly tells us that God not only can be found but also desires to be found. “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” All who come to God in faith will receive the reward of eternal life. If you’ve been praying for someone’s salvation, don’t become discouraged. Only God can grant saving faith, but He gives us the privilege of participating in His redemptive work through faithful prayer and evangelism

“He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” - (Hebrews 11:6).

All who come to God in faith will receive the reward of eternal life.

We’ve seen that without faith it’s impossible to please God. 

And the first step in faith is believing that God exists.

In addition, we must also believe that He answers our prayers — more specifically, that He redeems those who come to Him in faith.

Scripture repeatedly tells us that God not only can be found, but also desires to be found. 

David said to his son Solomon, “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 in Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” 

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 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’re two sides of the same theological coin.

On one side you see man believing God and receiving Christ for salvation. 

On the other you see God 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 Bible contains statements 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).

Suggestions for Prayer

If you’ve been praying for someone’s salvation, don’t become discouraged. 

Only God can grant saving faith, but He gives us the privilege of participating in His redemptive work through faithful prayer and evangelism (Romans 10:1).

by John MacArthur 

John F. MacArthur is one of the best-known radio preachers in the United States, featured on the internationally broadcast program Grace to You, which went on air in 1977. He has served as senior pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, since 1969. As an outspoken leader and author, MacArthur has riled both Charismatics and fellow Evangelicals at times and sparked heated debates among Christians.    

preachitteachit.org

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