Today you should read: Revelation 20:11-15
Have you ever been disciplined by a loving parent? I grew up in a home that firmly believed in disciplining kids who misbehaved. This could come in a multitude of ways: timeouts, taking away TV privileges, not allowing friends to come over, and sometimes spanking. Why did my parents go as far as spanking us when we misbehaved? The reason is quite simple, really. They simply wanted to teach us that our actions have consequences, and they still do.
God is similar in that regard. All throughout the Bible, we can see God taking His favor away from people and nations because they did not obey. And they were judged according to their deeds. I’m reminded of King Saul in 1 Samuel when he was explicitly instructed by God to destroy absolutely everything in Amalek, but instead Saul took the livestock from the city and made an offering with it to God. While it seemed like Saul was trying to do a good thing, he simply disobeyed God, and the consequence was the loss of His favor and leading.
There are consequences for the things we do, both physical and spiritual. Our sin separates us from a perfect, flawless God—eternally. But God made a way for us when there should have been no way. God sent His son Jesus to Earth as a man, where he lived a perfect, sinless life, then died the death we deserve on a cross. But not only did Jesus die in our place, he rose from the dead three days later, proving that he was who he said he was! God made a way for us to live eternally with Him, free of sin, shame, pain, and suffering. He simply asks that we believe in Jesus and receive him as Lord and Savior. To have your name “written in the book of life,” you must have a personal relationship with Jesus.
By: Tyler Monroe — Worship Ministries Intern
JumpstartCPC.com 
Good word today Tyler. Thanks for writing our commentary today.
13) The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds.
Sometimes verses like verse 13 are confusing to new believers.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
The man who places his faith in Jesus has been forgiven of all sins by the blood of Christ. Those who die in their sins and have never come to faith in Jesus will be judged according to their deeds.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
I am so grateful that Jesus paid my debt and I won’t face judgment for my sins!
The beautiful other half to history is when Israel repents, or at least some faction does, and God’s favor and presence returns. Like Samson, when I feel far from God I must remember to repent of sin that makes me feel far from the presence of God. I’m so glad and thankful God has the victory over sin and death that we get to forever abide in Him.