Matthew 5:12
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
We all want God to give us great rewards, but great reward is the result of action. We want to be a happy people, but again, happiness is not a possession but a result. We want to live a life of rejoicing, but rejoicing is the result of doing certain actions. Matthew chapter five is the record of Jesus teaching what we call the beatitudes. The beatitudes are what give the great reward. If we do what Jesus taught, we will find joy, gladness, and great reward.
However, I believe we are using the wrong word when we call it the beatitudes. Beatitudes are more about actions than attitudes, but the actions are what bring the results for which we look. Let me point these out.
Jesus said, Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. This mourning is not grieving for myself, but mourning or grieving for others. God makes me the conduit of comfort to those who mourn, but the great reward is that I get God’s comfort for my own hardships.
Jesus said, Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Meekness is power under control. Meekness is having the power to hurt others, but instead, using that power to help them. The result of meekness is gaining more to help others in their time of need.
Jesus said, Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. You don't get hungry until you do something that creates hunger. In other words, when you get busy doing righteous acts, you become hungry for God to help you, and it results in God filling your needs.
Jesus said, Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Again, you don't need mercy if you are not helping others. People will hurt you as you help them, and your exercise of mercy is what allows God to be merciful to you.
We could go through each verse and see that God rewards the action. He rewards the pure in heart; those who live right. He rewards the peacemakers; those who spend their lives telling others how to make peace with God through giving them the Gospel. God also rewards those who are persecuted for doing right. In all of these areas, there was an action before the reward came.
My friend, God is a God who rewards the obedient actions of His children. Those who do nothing for God find no reward. You will never know the great rewards God has for you in the Christian walk until you get busy doing what He commands you to do. The great reward is a result of doing what is right. You can get upset with God over not rewarding you, but His rewards come for the obedient believer who is serving Him by helping others.
Let me challenge you to get busy serving God. God has great rewards waiting for you, but His rewards only come on those who choose to be a conduit from God to man. While you help others, God will make you a channel from Him to others, but while He channels what others need through you, you get to enjoy the blessings firsthand. The secret to joy, gladness, and great reward in the Christian walk is found in serving God by helping others.
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