James 1:12 (NKJV) Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
2 Timothy 4:8 (NKJV) Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
1 Corinthians 9:25 (NKJV) And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
One day, Jesus will come back, and all believers must give an account of what we have done for Him with all that He has given us and receive our rewards accordingly.
Some of these rewards mentioned in the Bible are symbolic crowns which represent honour and victory. According to the Scriptures above, they include the Crown of Life (endurance), the Crown of Righteousness (longing for Christ’s return), and the Imperishable Crown (self-discipline).
Some of us are called into full-time ministry, but all of us are in full-time service to the Lord as ambassadors for Christ in the companies where we work or in our respective spheres of influence—the harvest field where God has placed you. The fivefold ministry workers are to equip you for the work of the ministry. You will be rewarded for the work of the gospel.
1 Corinthians 3:8-9 (NKJV) Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.
Jesus has given us administrative gifts, spiritual gifts, financial resources, and talents. Our willingness and motives to serve with our gifts and talents, to share the gospel, and to offer our houses, apartments, vehicles, and finances will all be revealed on that day. God will reward each one based on their work of service, except for hospitality to God’s servants, where we will also receive the reward of their work (Matthew 10:41).
There is a huge difference between seeking the hand and seeking the face of Jesus. When we seek only His hand to provide for all our wants in, we treat God like a vending machine. By contrast, when we seek His face to worship Him for who He is and for all that Jesus has done for us, we consecrate our lives to God. God calls us to be disciples of Christ rather than mere believers. It costs us little when we seek the hand of God because He becomes a convenience store to us, but if we truly appreciate the work of redemption through the blood of Jesus, we will want to live purposefully and intentionally for the Lord.
Reflection: Would you call yourself a believer in Christ or a disciple of His? How is the Holy Spirit inviting you to surrender more fully to the Lord?
Sermon Series: Pick up the cross to follow Jesus
你是信徒还是门徒？
雅各书 1:12 忍受试探的人是有福的，因为他经过试验以后，必得生命的冠冕；这是主应许给那些爱他之人的。
提摩太后书 4:8 从此以后，有公义的冠冕为我存留，就是按着公义审判的主到了那日要赐给我的；不但赐给我，也赐给凡爱慕他显现的人。
哥林多前书 9:25 凡较力争胜的，诸事都有节制，他们不过是要得能坏的冠冕；我们却是要得不能坏的冠冕。
总有一天，耶稣会再来，所有信徒都必须为祂所赐予我们的一切向祂交账，并获得相应的赏赐。
圣经中提到的这些赏赐，有一些是象征荣耀与胜利的冠冕。根据上述经文，它们包括：生命的冠冕（坚忍）、公义的冠冕（渴慕基督的显现）以及不能坏的冠冕（自律）。
我们中有些人蒙召进入全职事奉，但我们所有人都在各自身体力行的职场或影响力范围内——即神安置你的工场里，作为基督的使者全职事奉主。五重职事的同工是为了装备你，去分担福音事工的职分。你将因福音的工作而获得赏赐。
哥林多前书 3:8-9 栽种的和浇灌的，都是一样，将来各人要照自己的工夫得自己的报偿。因为我们是与神同工的；你们是神所耕种的田地，所建造的房屋。
耶稣已经赐给我们行政的恩赐、属灵的恩赐、财务资源和才干。在那一天，我们是否愿意以及出于何种动机用我们的恩赐和才干去服侍、分享福音，以及奉献我们的房屋、公寓、车辆和财务，都将被显明。神将根据每个人的服侍之工给予赏赐，唯独款待神的仆人是个例外，因为我们也将得到他们善工的赏赐（马太福音 10:41）。
寻求耶稣的“手”与寻求耶稣的“面”，这两者之间有着巨大的区别。当我们仅仅寻求祂的手来满足我们生活中的一切欲望时，我们把神当成了自动售货机。相反，当我们寻求祂的面，因着祂的本然以及耶稣为我们所做的一切来敬拜祂时，我们就是将自己的生命奉献给神。神呼召我们作基督的门徒，而不仅仅是普通的信徒。当我们只寻求神的手时，我们付出的代价微乎其微，因为祂成了我们的便利店；但如果我们真正感激耶稣宝血的救赎之功，我们就会想要有目的地、刻意地为主而活。
默想： 你会称自己是基督的信徒还是祂的门徒？圣灵正在如何邀请你更完全地向主降服？
讲章系列：背起十字架跟随耶稣