Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 3:12–15
Since we have Christ as the foundation of our lives, we still have to make critical daily decisions on how we walk with our Lord. That is what God had Paul bring to light in 1 Corinthians 3:12–13, “Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.” If we walk in obedience to our Lord and fulfill the “good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10) then we will produce “gold, silver, precious stones” for God’s kingdom and glory. But if we live to fulfill our fleshy desires, then we will produce nothing more than “wood, hay, and straw.” We read in 1 Corinthians 3:14–15, “If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” If our works survive God’s holy fire, we receive a reward. We don’t do good works for the reward, we do them because of the incredible gifts God’s already given us through Christ, such as life, love, complete forgiveness, grace, mercy, spiritual gifts, and more. His fire cleanses, purifies, and refines everything that is of Him, but His holy fire will utterly destroy our works that were done in the flesh.
Challenge & Application
Why are our daily decisions just as critical as the decision we made when we surrendered our lives to Christ?
How do you make sure that you are walking in the “good works” God has for you to fulfill each day?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!