History Books in 90 Days: Nehemiah 12-13
Revelation 3:11 (ESV); I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize
your crown.
Wouldn’t it be a shame to stand before Jesus and find out that the crowns He so wanted to give
you had been taken from you? There are many ways, Scripture tells us, that we can lose our
rewards. When we do not fulfill God’s plan for our lives we forfeit reward. When we latch onto false
doctrine and even worse, when we teach false doctrine to others, a crown is seized. Acting out of
impure motives also bring loss because Jesus will judge us for more than our actions; He will judge
the thoughts and attitudes of the heart and mind as well.
Loss of reward also comes by not finishing. Many people start well and finish poorly. Quite a
few God-hating atheists were brought up in religious homes, saying “sinner’s prayers”, going to
church and raising their hands in worship. It would seem that these men and women may have
started well but will not cross the finish line. Most people reading this devotional don’t fall under the
category of a God-hating atheist, but many of us could find our names in a Quitter category. When
God calls us to do something and we give up because of obstacles, laziness, fear, etc, our crown
for this calling is seized.
Let us hold fast to what we have – not our possessions, but our callings, our faithful endurance,
Biblical truth and purity of heart. It will not be easy, but through dependence on Jesus Christ and
the power of the Holy Spirit, we can live lives of faithfulness. When we are quick to repent of sin
and get back in the race, God is pleased because we show that we are holding fast.
Crowns of glory await your faithfulness. Keep the faith.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to speak to you about loss of reward. Is there an area in your life where you are
soon to lose yours?
2. What difficult task has God called you to? Do you feel the pressure to give up? Are you quick
to get up and ask for forgiveness when you have failed, or do you wallow in guilt and selfpity?
Spend some time committing yourself to God in prayer.
3. Ask Jesus to develop the fruit of faithfulness in your life so that you can hold fast to your
rewards.
