Walking with the Lord

We have now come to the Fourth Spiritual incentive to encourage us to maintain a holy walk ~The Judgment of God ~ 1 Peter 1:17 'And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear'. 

As God's children, we need to be serious about sin and about holy living. Our Heavenly Father is holy (John 17:11) and righteous (John 17:25). God, Peter says, judges each man’s work with impartiality. When you think of God judging you, you may think about Him being a critical judge trying always to find a defect or flaw in our conduct or service; however, the Greek tells us differently. That is, God's impartiality is an honest appraisal of things, while His heart is always with His child and goes out to him in a spirit of love. That is beautifully brought out in the use of a particular Greek word in 1 Corinthians 3:13, which verse in its context refer to the judgment of the believer's works at the Judgment Seat of Christ. ~ 1 Corinthians 3:13 'each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.' The Greek word means, "to put to the test in order to sanction or approve the good one finds in that person." 1 Samuel 16:7 ―... For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 

Each of us will give an account of his works, and each will receive the appropriate reward. The question would be is when we are judged will our works be burned up or will we receive crowns to throw at his feet. God will search into our motives; He will examine our hearts. But He assures us that His purpose is to glorify Himself in our lives and ministries.
1 Corinthians 4:5 ―Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.' What an encouragement! Will He be able to say Good and Faithful Servant?

In view of the fact that the Father lovingly disciplines His children today, and will judge their works in the future, we ought to cultivate an attitude of godly fear. This is not the cringing fear, but the loving reverence of a child before his father. It is not fear of judgment (1 John 4:18), but a fear of disappointing Him or sinning against His love. It is "godly fear" (2 Cor. 7:1), a sober reverence for the Father.