In Psalm 16:2-3 (NKJV), David writes, 2. O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You.” 3. And to the saints who are on the Earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all My delight.” We are not the Lord’s delight because we are the best at what we do, or the brightest person there is, or because of anything that we do upon this Earth. Nothing of ourselves makes us God’s delight. No, we are the Lord’s delight for nothing more than being His children, for no one other than His child is called a saint. It is because of His implanted righteousness brought about through the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ that we can come to Him in obedient, saving faith and be adopted into His holy family.
As His child, sometimes we will face His discipline. The Hebrews writer states, 5. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6. for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” 7. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? (Hebrews 12:5-7 [NKJV]) It is this loving discipline from God that will bring great reward to the faithful child of God. David later penned, 4. Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. 5. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:4-5 [NKJV])
Ultimately, our greatest reward will come when the Lord calls us home. David writes again, saying in Psalm 116:15 [NKJV], “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” When we look at death from God’s perspective, we will understand that Death does not extinguish the lights of our lives, as many believe; but rather, it turns out the lamp because the Light of the new day has dawned!
Because Jesus died, we now can sleep. Jesus triumphed over death so that we no longer need to fear it. The Apostle Paul tells us, 51. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed 52. in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55. “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56. The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:51-57 [NKJV])
As His child, sometimes we will face His discipline. The Hebrews writer states, 5. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6. for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” 7. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? (Hebrews 12:5-7 [NKJV]) It is this loving discipline from God that will bring great reward to the faithful child of God. David later penned, 4. Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. 5. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:4-5 [NKJV])
Ultimately, our greatest reward will come when the Lord calls us home. David writes again, saying in Psalm 116:15 [NKJV], “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” When we look at death from God’s perspective, we will understand that Death does not extinguish the lights of our lives, as many believe; but rather, it turns out the lamp because the Light of the new day has dawned!
Because Jesus died, we now can sleep. Jesus triumphed over death so that we no longer need to fear it. The Apostle Paul tells us, 51. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed 52. in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55. “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56. The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:51-57 [NKJV])
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