Focus: What God Hasn't Said

Text: Isa.45:19

"I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I SAID NOT UNTO THE SEED OF JACOB, SEEK YE ME IN VAIN: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right."

We live in a world that is ruled and upheld by God's word. The believer lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. In the Garden of Eden, the serpent asks the woman, "Has God said?" The recurring words of Jesus to the seven churches of Asia are: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." God is always saying something to His people, and from what He has said or is saying we can decipher what God is not saying.

Our text makes it clear that there are things God has not said, one of which is serving God in vain. God has never said to His people at any time, 'Serve me for nothing.' Satan said to God about Job, "Doth Job fear God for nought. Hast not thou made an HEDGE about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast BLESSED the work of his hands, and his substance is INCREASED in the land" (Jb.1:9,10). Satan is saying to God, 'There are certainly loads of benefits for fearing and serving You, and Job is really after the benefits, nothing else.' But God proved Satan wrong, for against all odds, Job kept faith with God even to the very end.

One clear lesson from all of this, is that fearing and serving God is indeed rewarding.

When the troubles of Job ended, God rewarded him beyond his past riches. God reversed his condition, restored his life and health, gave him beautiful children, and bestowed on him so much favor and honor.

God says to Abraham, "For now I know that thou FEAREST God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me… By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for BECAUSE thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son. That in blessing I will BLESS thee, and in multiplying I will MULTIPLY thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall POSSESS the gate of his enemies. And in thy SEED shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; BECAUSE thou hast obeyed my voice" (Gen.22:12,16-18). The blessings of serving God are quite stupendous. See how God blessed Abraham and Job, and all others, for faithful service to Him!

One thing we must not do is serving God for gain, but be assured that serving God is surely rewarding, not only in the afterlife, but also in this life.

Jesus says, "Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now IN THIS TIME, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; AND IN THE WORLD TO COME eternal life" (Mk.10:29-30). The blessings of faithfulness are for time and eternity.

Whatever situation or challenge that you are facing right now, never lose confidence in your God. He rewards obedience, faithfulness, and service to Him in all its forms. God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. This divine reward comes to us in different ways. Our God is a trustworthy rewarder. He pays so well for our labor of love. I believe that you will soon testify.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter