The one who overcomes and keeps My works until the end, I will give him authority over the nations. He will rule them with a rod of iron the way a ceramic vessel is shattered, just as I have received [authority] from My Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Rev. 2:26-29.
What is it that motivates people to accomplish difficult tasks? How is it that some people can endure all kinds of hardship and difficulty for a relatively minor reward? Some individuals, for example, and I'm one of them, will tolerate all kinds of sweat, pain, and exhaustion for a mountaintop view. Others will travel as much as a half day for a meal at their favorite restaurant. Students will work five times as hard at their studies to get a good grade at the end of the course.
I have a daughter who loves winter camping. She is truly amazing. Once she spent a whole week outdoors in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in February! She and about 17 others dragged 100-pound packs on sleds behind them in the snow, slept in teepees, and cooked their food over tiny camp stoves that they had to carry along with their clothing, flashlights, and other supplies. Special clothing and supplies for the trip cost almost $1,000!
One of the most interesting features of dragging a sled through the snow is how hot it gets! While the temperature of the day might be as low as -18° F, the warmth of the winter sun, combined with the high-end camp clothing, led to waves and waves of sweat. My daughter's number one desire at the end of the work was to find a shower.
Although she cannot wait to go winter camping again, one day she complained about how hard it was--the aching muscles, the sweat, the shortness of breath. I asked her what kept her going at those times. "I didn't want to fall behind everybody else!" she said. For her that was powerful motivation!
Jesus knows that everyone needs motivation to change their ways or to accomplish something great. In the letter to the church at Thyatira He tells them to keep their eye on the reward. The day is coming when Jesus will endow them with dominion over the nations. Kings and priests in heavenly places, they will have authority like His. He will also give them the morning star. Revelation 22:16 tells us that Jesus is the morning star--that He is giving them Himself. So the ultimate motivation is a close relationship with Jesus.
Lord, help me to keep my eye on the reward today. I can accomplish amazing things when I know that You are with me.
What is it that motivates people to accomplish difficult tasks? How is it that some people can endure all kinds of hardship and difficulty for a relatively minor reward? Some individuals, for example, and I'm one of them, will tolerate all kinds of sweat, pain, and exhaustion for a mountaintop view. Others will travel as much as a half day for a meal at their favorite restaurant. Students will work five times as hard at their studies to get a good grade at the end of the course.
I have a daughter who loves winter camping. She is truly amazing. Once she spent a whole week outdoors in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in February! She and about 17 others dragged 100-pound packs on sleds behind them in the snow, slept in teepees, and cooked their food over tiny camp stoves that they had to carry along with their clothing, flashlights, and other supplies. Special clothing and supplies for the trip cost almost $1,000!
One of the most interesting features of dragging a sled through the snow is how hot it gets! While the temperature of the day might be as low as -18° F, the warmth of the winter sun, combined with the high-end camp clothing, led to waves and waves of sweat. My daughter's number one desire at the end of the work was to find a shower.
Although she cannot wait to go winter camping again, one day she complained about how hard it was--the aching muscles, the sweat, the shortness of breath. I asked her what kept her going at those times. "I didn't want to fall behind everybody else!" she said. For her that was powerful motivation!
Jesus knows that everyone needs motivation to change their ways or to accomplish something great. In the letter to the church at Thyatira He tells them to keep their eye on the reward. The day is coming when Jesus will endow them with dominion over the nations. Kings and priests in heavenly places, they will have authority like His. He will also give them the morning star. Revelation 22:16 tells us that Jesus is the morning star--that He is giving them Himself. So the ultimate motivation is a close relationship with Jesus.
Lord, help me to keep my eye on the reward today. I can accomplish amazing things when I know that You are with me.
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