YOUR REWARD

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 5:12

“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.”

Luke 6:23

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Jesus promised His followers that they would be persecuted and we are that promise come true when the apostles were mistreated after Jesus’ departure, so much so in Jerusalem that they scattered to Judea and Samaria, a precursor to Jesus’ statement that eventually the Gospel would be taken to all parts of the world. Of course, we know Paul, ironically a main player in persecuting Jesus’ apostles and disciples at one time as Saul, would be the one who would carry the mantle of Jesus and spread the good news of salvation through Him to many nations during his missionary journeys, suffering great persecution himself along the way.

Today, people are still remaining obedient to the Great Commission of Jesus to make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit while teaching others to obey all He commanded. And as you would guess, many of these people are experiencing hatred and persecution for being a Christian, some even being martyred for it.

Where is this happening in the world?

Well, it’s occurring in at least 50 nations because the organization, Open Doors, lists the top fifty nations where Christians are persecuted the most. You can check it out here and by clicking on each nation, you can read all about the dangers and perils Christians are facing for the cause of their faith:

https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/

So why do Christians still do it? Why do they still boldly go and place themselves in harm’s way for the cause of the Gospel?

Perhaps it’s because they know their reward is already won and no one can ever take that prize from them, even by way of murder. They know this because Jesus assures it as we see in today’s scripture passages from Matthew and Luke. Look again at these words here:

“Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  Matthew 5:12

“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.”  Luke 6:23

If you were going to identify the top ten emotions associated with persecution, I don’t think the average person would name “rejoicing” in that number but as we see from the words of Jesus, this is exactly what He prescribes the persecuted to do, to “rejoice and be glad” during their time of persecution.  

Why?

Jesus gives two reasons.

First, the persecuted were to rejoice and be glad because what they were enduring was the same suffering the prophets went through as they served the Lord. Indeed, persecution has been associated with obedient service to the Lord for the ages.

The second reason the persecuted were to rejoice and be glad was because their reward would be great in heaven because of Him and the salvation He brings. In other words, no matter what happened to them as they served the Lord, their great reward would be guaranteed.

In other words, while enemies of Jesus and those who serve in His name might be able to kill the body, they can’t touch the Christian’s soul, a soul that will go on to live forever.   

Friends, have you received Jesus in your own life and in doing so, claimed your reward from the Savior?

If so, then it makes no difference what persecution you experience in His name as you carry out His will and way for the kingdom of heaven awaits you with all its glory after this earthly life and all its perils is no more.

Take heart Christians. Rejoice and be glad. The best days of life are yet to come and await you the day when you receive your everlasting reward, all because of Jesus.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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