Daily Companion  |  28 April

DAY OF RECKONING: CROWN OR CRY

"After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them." - Matthew 25:19 

What keeps the world going is based on the input and output principle. Every input has an output. Everything and every action have a byproduct. Any entry that has no exit is a dead end. Death itself is an entry to another realm. So the end of the world is not a dead end but an entry into the reckoning time. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

From the spoken word or body language to outright actions, no matter how little, there is always a consequence. For instance, whatever we eat has both effect on the body and some end up in faeces or in vomit. If you eat healthy food, you’ll have healthy life. Unhealthy food leads to illness or cancer.  To whom much is also given, definitely much will be expected. Hence, all actions we take everyday, from idleness to pleasure, from little efforts to struggles and hustles, days of reckoning are inevitable: a day of evaluation, assessment, examination, and finally judgement. Some judgements are loud while some are silent. Some are celebrated while some end in shame. But one thing is common to all: input and output, action/inaction and consequences. 

Dearly beloved, nothing in this life goes unreckoned with. Even your inactions have their consequences. Though the servant with one talent did nothing with it, yet he still faced the consequences. How much more if he had lost or destroyed it! What you sow, you shall reap. “To him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward” (Proverbs 11:18). For “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). 

Dear friend, you can choose to sow good things to yourself, others and God. Before the day of reckoning, cultivate the habit to constantly reckon with yourself in self-assessment daily, weekly or monthly. "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves..." (2 Corinthians 13:5). What are you doing for yourself? What are you doing for others? And what are you doing for God. Do they match God’s standard? Are they things you can be proud of and worthy of a crown? Can you affirm at the end of each task, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith...”? You know it is never too late to repent from doing nothing or wrong things and start afresh with Jesus who strengthens. In the day of reckoning, it is either crown or cry, rejoicing or regrets. May crown await you. 

Today’s Recite: Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Revelation 3:11

Today’s Morning Prayers: I Thank You O God for another day of grace. I repent of my idleness and inactions. I pray for grace to always do good for You, others, and for myself. I need Your unction to reach out to others today; preaching to them and leading them to be crowned. May I be found worthy to be crowned at the day of reckoning in Jesus name! Amen!

Today’s Hymn: A GREAT DAY COMING

Today’s ReadMe:  1 Chronicles 19 - 21