Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a dsiciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. - Matthew 10:40-42.
Let's talk about rewards. This passage follows where Jesus send out his disciples and tells them that they will encounter suffering, but that they can count on God's provision. He then tells them that he did not come to bring peace, but that his word would set even families against each other. Finally, he tells them that whoever does not lay down his entire life to follow him, then he is not worthy to be considered a disciple.
But, at the end, Jesus promises rewards to those who are faithful to him and to those who receive his followers and the words they preach. Those of us who do not believe in the Prosperity Gospel tend to avoid these passages on rewards because we see them so misused. But to not appreciate God's rewards is like throwing them back in his face out of pride.
There is tremendous life to be found in following God. You make known to me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy. At your right hand are pleasures forevermore. - Psalm 16:11. We do not experience this life because we are not following God with all of our hearts. Sometimes we decline joy because we feel we are not suffering enough for the kingdom. This is a completely backwards view.
Do you enjoy God? Are you living in the complete enjoyment of who God is? John Piper has written and preached on this pursuit and has made the claim: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him." All of his sermons and books are built on that foundation and rightly so.
We have the great giver of life ready to give us everything he is. Are we asking?
Peace,
Jeff Moody
jeffmoody82@gmail.com
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