MAR 12

2 Timothy 3:12
Memorise John 15:20
“… ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake..”

WHAT IS OUR REWARD FOR SERVICE? (I)

When you do well in school, what do you receive as a reward? Do your parents buy you something nice? Perhaps your teachers will pat you on the back and the school may even give you a special academic prize. If you have done a good deed, say given up your bus seat to an old lady, you should at least be expecting a “thank you” isn’t it? That is how the world normally works. When something good is done, one would normally expect a good return.

However, as we see from God’s Word in 2 Timothy, it seems that it is very different when it comes to the service of God. God’s Word warns us that those who will live godly lives will suffer persecution. Not “may” but “will”. When we live our lives according to God’s Word, when we grow in grace and become more and more like Christ, God’s Word in 2 Timothy tells us that we will suffer persecution from others. Does that come as a surprise to you? Were you expecting the opposite? Why is it that the believer who has been faithfully following God would suffer for his efforts? In John 15:20 Christ said that He Himself will suffer persecution and what more the servants of Christ? Do you experience this? If you continue to be faithful in your walk, if you continue to grow as a believer, you have to expect this to happen. The reason is simply. We are of the light and light has no fellowship with darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:5). If you live a holy life, those that are in sin will not like you. The ungodly hates the godly. And in case you think only unbelievers will persecute, that is not true either. Some believers who live a life of sin can become our persecutors too. As long as we have to make the decision to live a godly life and if that decision offends those who are ungodly, we should expect persecution. Hence, the true and faithful believer will suffer persecution sooner or later. But, there are many encouragements for us in Scripture. In Matthew 5:11, Christ pronounced a wonderful blessing to all who suffer for His sake. Christ looks kindly and favorably upon those who suffer because they lived in obedience. If there are none to comfort, Christ Himself will come to comfort you in ways you cannot imagine. But why does one then choose to serve Christ even when we are told that persecution is for sure? Is it not because of what Christ has done for us? Is it not because He has already suffered greatly for us? If He has done so much for us, what little can we do for Him? If He has loved us so much, can we not serve Him because of this love? We can.

Thought: How much did Christ suffer for you?
Prayer: Father, give me strength and courage to continue my walk despite the persecutions that I suffer and will continue to suffer.