Harvest Daily with Greg Laurie - Aug. 17, 2006

Worth Waiting For

 

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.   Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

—Matthew 5:11–12

 

You may have given up many things to follow Jesus Christ.  You may have lost friends, even family, to be His servant.  You may have resisted many temptations.  Perhaps there have been hardships that you have endured because of your faith.  God promises you a special reward in heaven.

 

There are many who have suffered much worse, those throughout church history who have laid down their lives—men and women who were put to death for their faith in Christ, men and women who, if they would have denied the Lord, could have walked away but would not make that compromise.  They have a special reward waiting for them in heaven.

 

James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

 

If you have suffered the loss of something like a friendship, if you have taken ridicule and persecution, know that God will reward you (see Matthew 5:11–12).  Whatever you gave up, He will make it up to you.

 

Sure, we give up a few things to follow Christ.  Sometimes we may think, I know it’s wrong, but it looks kind of fun.  I kind of wish I could do it.  But we know we shouldn’t.  So we resist.  As time passes, you will look back at the fallout, the repercussions, and say, “I’m glad I avoided that.”  And ultimately, in that final day, God will give you a reward.

For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org.

Copyright © 2006 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000.