Does this verse kind of give you the shivers? I realize participation trophies are a big things—everyone gets rewarded whether they win or not. On one hand, that seems kind; no one is left out. But on the other hand, there’s no real benefit to scoring the most points or earning the best grade, which can make some people decide to not even try. When it comes to pleasing God, there is no “everybody gets a participation trophy” rule in place. God loves everyone, but He doesn’t reward those who reject Him. Grace abounds, but those who truly love God don’t take advantage of His grace. They don’t use salvation as “fire insurance” and then return to living as if He doesn’t exist. If we say we love Him, then our lives should reflect that truth, and when our love for Him develops into spiritual fruit, we do not wither. Fear is replaced with confident assurance.