Daniel Fast Day 6
FRUITFULNESS
Glory Awaits
In life, as far as it pertains to temperaments, people are usually divided into three different categories. People are seen as optimistic, pessimistic, or realistic. I don’t know where you place yourself on this temperament scale of measuring, but I do know we all have a lens through which we view life. This lens determines how we see ourselves, others, the world we live in and even determines our view of God. The optimist is positive about life. They see the best in all situations and are “glass half full” kind of people. The pessimist is negative about life. They see the worst in all situations and they are “glass half empty” kind of people. The pessimist’s tombstone reads; “I expected this.” The realist walks the line between the optimist and the pessimist. They simply just see a glass with water in it.
In whatever way you have been viewing life, I want to encourage you to start looking at life with a new set of lenses. As followers of Christ, we can be “optimistically realistic”. We can be positive because our future far outweighs our past or present. This is not simply an optimistic view; this is a reality for all those who serve Christ Jesus and whose lives are hidden in Christ. We have a very limited idea of how good our future in Christ really is! It’s better than you can imagine, and greater than what you can dream. It is beyond your wildest and most joyous expectations. Our future in Christ is simply glorious. Glory awaits the faithful believers and obedient followers of Christ! Colossians 3:3-4(NLT) “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.”
Although it seems hidden now, one day the whole world will see Jesus for who He truly is and we will share in His glory! The death we died, through Jesus, to this life will bring about the glory of God soon to be revealed. The dying seems to be the difficult part, only because we have a restricted and obstructed view. If we only see the present and not the future, we will continue to struggle to be fruitful. Fruitful people understand that the present difficulties cannot overshadow the future glories! We are encouraged through Scripture to set our sights on the realities of heaven. Why? Because heaven’s reality is greater than our temporary realities of life.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18(NLT) “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
When we fully understand what glory awaits us in Christ, it mobilizes us to become more fruitful. We become more fruitful because we realize that the present is the only temporary period we will experience in our eternal existence. The only things that will last forever are the things we cannot see. The now, which we fuss over so much, will soon be gone, never to make a comeback. The eternal which we might be tempted to neglect, will soon be made visible and will remain forever. So the question we must ask and answer is this, “Where are you placing your focus?” The answer really is a self-revealing one. Our focus is shown by the sacrifices we are willing to make.
We never make sacrifices in things we do not see a future in. If we cannot sacrifice our time, talent, treasures, and resources for the Kingdom’s sake, it means we do not believe in the future that belongs to those who willingly give up all for Christ’s sake. Fruitfulness requires a willingness to sacrifice the present appeasements for eternal glory. The ability to sacrifice for future glory is called postponed or delayed gratification. We either are living for immediate gratification or postponed gratification. We must be careful that we do not live our lives wanting instant satisfaction at the expense of our eternal reward. No sacrifice made for the sake of the kingdom and Christ Jesus will be left unrewarded.
1 Peter 5:10-11(NLT) “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.”
The Father sees in secret, knows all secrets, sees the true motive, and He will reward accordingly. It is impossible to lose our eternal reward when our life is in Christ, our labor is sacred, our motives are pure and our vision is set on the eternal. All of our actions must be bathed in gratitude, carried out in faith, and spurred on by love. When we see the glory that awaits us, sacrifice becomes nothing but a normal part of a fruitful life. Giving, praying, fasting, and serving flow from a heart of gratitude that is very aware of a future that far outweighs any so-called sacrifices made. Change your mindset from seeing it as a sacrifice to seeing it as an investment into your own future. Glory awaits us! Inexpressible glory awaits us! We will share in all of Christ Jesus' glory!
When we give to others, the Father will reward us. (Matt. 6:4) “Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” When we pray, the Father sees and He rewards. (Matt. 6:6) “But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” When we fast, God sees and He rewards. (Matt. 6:18) “Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
All that is hidden will one day be revealed. All the good that was done in secret will be known to all. All that was given willingly and cheerfully for His kingdom’s sake, will one day be returned in greater quality, quantity, and kind. Every tear that was shed with compassion and care will be dried. Every act done with no ulterior motive, but to exalt Christ, will be rewarded. All that was lost for Christ’s sake will be regained in unfathomable measure. Why would we not be willing to give up that which is temporary and fading away for that which is eternal and will last forever? “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose” - Jim Elliot
1 Thessalonians 2:12(NLT) “We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.”
Take heart, fruitful followers of Christ, live worthy of your ultimate destiny, because glory awaits you!
Prayer and Reflection:
Father, all I can say is thank You, thank You, thank You! Thank You for loving me, thank You for saving me, thank You for calling me, thank You for justifying me, thank You for allowing me to share in Your kingdom and Your glory. Give me clarity, so that I may live my life in view of Your mercies. Give me a sober mind so that I may see the difference between the temporary and the eternal. Help me to remember that You are a rewarder, that You love to bless Your children, and that You will reward the smallest sacrifice. Help me to keep my motives pure and my heart set on living my life worthy of Your call.
Forgive me where I shrink back in fear instead of stepping out by faith. Help me to see the invisible, embrace the eternal, and believe for the impossible! Show me where change is needed and where sacrifices are required. I stand in awe of Your goodness and grace and will forever give You the glory and praise. Build Your church, Your way! Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done! In Jesus Name I pray, Amen and Amen!
Glory Awaits
In life, as far as it pertains to temperaments, people are usually divided into three different categories. People are seen as optimistic, pessimistic, or realistic. I don’t know where you place yourself on this temperament scale of measuring, but I do know we all have a lens through which we view life. This lens determines how we see ourselves, others, the world we live in and even determines our view of God. The optimist is positive about life. They see the best in all situations and are “glass half full” kind of people. The pessimist is negative about life. They see the worst in all situations and they are “glass half empty” kind of people. The pessimist’s tombstone reads; “I expected this.” The realist walks the line between the optimist and the pessimist. They simply just see a glass with water in it.
In whatever way you have been viewing life, I want to encourage you to start looking at life with a new set of lenses. As followers of Christ, we can be “optimistically realistic”. We can be positive because our future far outweighs our past or present. This is not simply an optimistic view; this is a reality for all those who serve Christ Jesus and whose lives are hidden in Christ. We have a very limited idea of how good our future in Christ really is! It’s better than you can imagine, and greater than what you can dream. It is beyond your wildest and most joyous expectations. Our future in Christ is simply glorious. Glory awaits the faithful believers and obedient followers of Christ! Colossians 3:3-4(NLT) “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.”
Although it seems hidden now, one day the whole world will see Jesus for who He truly is and we will share in His glory! The death we died, through Jesus, to this life will bring about the glory of God soon to be revealed. The dying seems to be the difficult part, only because we have a restricted and obstructed view. If we only see the present and not the future, we will continue to struggle to be fruitful. Fruitful people understand that the present difficulties cannot overshadow the future glories! We are encouraged through Scripture to set our sights on the realities of heaven. Why? Because heaven’s reality is greater than our temporary realities of life.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18(NLT) “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
When we fully understand what glory awaits us in Christ, it mobilizes us to become more fruitful. We become more fruitful because we realize that the present is the only temporary period we will experience in our eternal existence. The only things that will last forever are the things we cannot see. The now, which we fuss over so much, will soon be gone, never to make a comeback. The eternal which we might be tempted to neglect, will soon be made visible and will remain forever. So the question we must ask and answer is this, “Where are you placing your focus?” The answer really is a self-revealing one. Our focus is shown by the sacrifices we are willing to make.
We never make sacrifices in things we do not see a future in. If we cannot sacrifice our time, talent, treasures, and resources for the Kingdom’s sake, it means we do not believe in the future that belongs to those who willingly give up all for Christ’s sake. Fruitfulness requires a willingness to sacrifice the present appeasements for eternal glory. The ability to sacrifice for future glory is called postponed or delayed gratification. We either are living for immediate gratification or postponed gratification. We must be careful that we do not live our lives wanting instant satisfaction at the expense of our eternal reward. No sacrifice made for the sake of the kingdom and Christ Jesus will be left unrewarded.
1 Peter 5:10-11(NLT) “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.”
The Father sees in secret, knows all secrets, sees the true motive, and He will reward accordingly. It is impossible to lose our eternal reward when our life is in Christ, our labor is sacred, our motives are pure and our vision is set on the eternal. All of our actions must be bathed in gratitude, carried out in faith, and spurred on by love. When we see the glory that awaits us, sacrifice becomes nothing but a normal part of a fruitful life. Giving, praying, fasting, and serving flow from a heart of gratitude that is very aware of a future that far outweighs any so-called sacrifices made. Change your mindset from seeing it as a sacrifice to seeing it as an investment into your own future. Glory awaits us! Inexpressible glory awaits us! We will share in all of Christ Jesus' glory!
When we give to others, the Father will reward us. (Matt. 6:4) “Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” When we pray, the Father sees and He rewards. (Matt. 6:6) “But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” When we fast, God sees and He rewards. (Matt. 6:18) “Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
All that is hidden will one day be revealed. All the good that was done in secret will be known to all. All that was given willingly and cheerfully for His kingdom’s sake, will one day be returned in greater quality, quantity, and kind. Every tear that was shed with compassion and care will be dried. Every act done with no ulterior motive, but to exalt Christ, will be rewarded. All that was lost for Christ’s sake will be regained in unfathomable measure. Why would we not be willing to give up that which is temporary and fading away for that which is eternal and will last forever? “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose” - Jim Elliot
1 Thessalonians 2:12(NLT) “We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.”
Take heart, fruitful followers of Christ, live worthy of your ultimate destiny, because glory awaits you!
Prayer and Reflection:
- Have you ever thought about how good your future in Christ is going to be? How excited are you about God’s promises for the future?
- Where would you say your focus in life is? Is it on the temporary, or on the eternal?
- If you say your focus is on the eternal, does your lifestyle reflect that reality? If not, what do you need to change to reflect what you say?
- All of our sacrifices, made with the right motivation, will one day be rewarded. A simple heartfelt prayer, a private gift to someone in need, a willingness to fast and seek the Lord, a cup of water given to one of the Lord’s servants, using our gifts to serve others! Do you believe this? If so, why then do we struggle to do what we know is an investment in our eternal future?
- What is the Lord asking you to sacrifice? Are you willing? When will you start living your life in view of the glory that waits for you?
Father, all I can say is thank You, thank You, thank You! Thank You for loving me, thank You for saving me, thank You for calling me, thank You for justifying me, thank You for allowing me to share in Your kingdom and Your glory. Give me clarity, so that I may live my life in view of Your mercies. Give me a sober mind so that I may see the difference between the temporary and the eternal. Help me to remember that You are a rewarder, that You love to bless Your children, and that You will reward the smallest sacrifice. Help me to keep my motives pure and my heart set on living my life worthy of Your call.
Forgive me where I shrink back in fear instead of stepping out by faith. Help me to see the invisible, embrace the eternal, and believe for the impossible! Show me where change is needed and where sacrifices are required. I stand in awe of Your goodness and grace and will forever give You the glory and praise. Build Your church, Your way! Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done! In Jesus Name I pray, Amen and Amen!
Posted in Daniel Fast 2024