THE REWARDS OF CHRIST
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
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C O L O S S I A N S 3 : 2 4 - 25
Knowing that of the LORD ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the LORD CHRIST. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
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Perspective matters.
"If in this life only we have hope in Christ," Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "we are of all men most miserable." (1 Corinthians 15:19).
Christians take the long view. Like everyone else, we are sometimes appreciated and compensated for meeting and surpassing expectations. Other times it seems no one notices and no one cares.
I read of a missionary couple who returned to America from Africa on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt. The president was returning from a big-game hunting expedition.
As the ship docked in New York there were adoring crowds and trumpet fanfares. With great ceremony the President was greeted by dignitaries and welcomed home.
As the weary and worn missionaries walked off the ship there was no one who paid attention to them. The discouraged missionary turned to his wife and cried, "Something is wrong, God is not treating us fairly."
His wife urged him to tell the Lord. He went into the bedroom of their simple apartment and poured his heart out to the Lord. A short time later he walked out of the room a changed man. Where there had been tears there was now joy. Where there had been trouble, there was now peace.
"What happened?" his wife asked. The missionary explained. I told the Lord how bitter I was that the President had received this wonderful homecoming, when no one met us when we returned home. Then the Missionary smiled and said, "It seemed as though the Lord put His hand on my shoulder and simply said, 'You're not home yet!'"
We may not own property. We may not be well-paid. We may not be honored. But if we will be faithful, the Lord has promised His people an inheritance that is out of this world. Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you."
So in Jesus' name we press on.
In Jesus' name we seize the opportunity of each day.
In Jesus' name we do our best, whether it seems significant or insignificant in the eyes of others--or even in our own eyes.
In Jesus' name we receive instruction gladly, apply ourselves willingly, and persist energetically.
If God has willed that we would be doing what we are doing, then we will do our best at it.
And what of those who slack and sin? What of those who have seemingly prospered in spite of their disregard for God's will? The inspired Apostle warns, "they will receive for the wrong which they have done."
But for us, the greatest of all rewards is this: Eternity with "SIMPLY JESUS!"
"If in this life only we have hope in Christ," Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "we are of all men most miserable." (1 Corinthians 15:19).
Christians take the long view. Like everyone else, we are sometimes appreciated and compensated for meeting and surpassing expectations. Other times it seems no one notices and no one cares.
I read of a missionary couple who returned to America from Africa on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt. The president was returning from a big-game hunting expedition.
As the ship docked in New York there were adoring crowds and trumpet fanfares. With great ceremony the President was greeted by dignitaries and welcomed home.
As the weary and worn missionaries walked off the ship there was no one who paid attention to them. The discouraged missionary turned to his wife and cried, "Something is wrong, God is not treating us fairly."
His wife urged him to tell the Lord. He went into the bedroom of their simple apartment and poured his heart out to the Lord. A short time later he walked out of the room a changed man. Where there had been tears there was now joy. Where there had been trouble, there was now peace.
"What happened?" his wife asked. The missionary explained. I told the Lord how bitter I was that the President had received this wonderful homecoming, when no one met us when we returned home. Then the Missionary smiled and said, "It seemed as though the Lord put His hand on my shoulder and simply said, 'You're not home yet!'"
We may not own property. We may not be well-paid. We may not be honored. But if we will be faithful, the Lord has promised His people an inheritance that is out of this world. Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you."
So in Jesus' name we press on.
In Jesus' name we seize the opportunity of each day.
In Jesus' name we do our best, whether it seems significant or insignificant in the eyes of others--or even in our own eyes.
In Jesus' name we receive instruction gladly, apply ourselves willingly, and persist energetically.
If God has willed that we would be doing what we are doing, then we will do our best at it.
And what of those who slack and sin? What of those who have seemingly prospered in spite of their disregard for God's will? The inspired Apostle warns, "they will receive for the wrong which they have done."
But for us, the greatest of all rewards is this: Eternity with "SIMPLY JESUS!"
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