Spend time in prayer and silence with God, asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
For while we are still in this tent (earthly body), we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore, we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So, we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
– 2 Corinthians 5:4-10
Devotion
In this physical realm, we are burdened. It is not that we are worried about being unclothed; we know that we shall be clothed with righteousness of Christ. If He is our Savior, then He is our only hope. Once again, we see that the Holy Spirit is the seal or down payment guaranteeing us of what is to come. As long as we exist in these earthly bodies, we are absent from the Lord. Paul says that we walk by faith. We take God at His Word. Then Paul mentions the judgment (bema) seat. This is a place where victors receive reward. Only believers will appear at the “bema” seat of Christ. It is not a judgment of the believer’s sins, which Christ fully atoned for on the cross. This judgment is to see whether you are going to receive a reward or not. We will be judged on the way we lived the Christian life while inhabiting these earthly bodies. This is not the Great White Throne judgment. Knowing that our works and motives for serving Christ will be tested, this should motivate us to serve Him in a way that truly reflects His character.
The Big Question
Are you ready to shed this earthly dwelling for a heavenly dwelling that can’t be corrupted? Can you say, like Paul, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain?” Do you look forward to the “bema” seat judgment? When your motives and works are tested, will they remain like precious metals or will they be burned up like wood and be found in a pile of ashes? What motivates you to serve and worship the Lord?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence, reflecting on what God revealed to you today.