Sunday

When You Respond in Love, Great Is Your Reward!

“Since we are his children . . . if we share Christ's suffering, we will also share his glory.” (Romans 8:17 (GNT))

You know those people in your life who drive you crazy? The only way you’re going to be able to face them and return good for evil is to remember your eternal reward.

As part of his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made this promise: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 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 5:11-12 NIV).

When you respond to your enemies like Jesus would, God says you're right up there with Moses, Abraham, Elijah, and all the great prophets of the Bible. You're in God's Hall of Fame. You're in good company.

Maybe you face opposition because of your faith in Jesus Christ. The Living Bible paraphrase says, “These troubles and sufferings of ours are, after all, quite small and won't last very long. Yet this short time of distress will result in God's richest blessing upon us forever and ever!” (2 Corinthians 4:17). God has promised to give you his richest eternal blessings because of the trials and opposition you experience. The pain is temporary, but the payoff will last forever.

Or maybe you have kids or know kids who are being bullied because they go against what culture says is permissible or right or even good. This is what they need to remember when they’re worried about how to respond to people who treat them badly: Great is your reward! The eternal payoff is going to be worth the temporary harassment.

“Since we are his children . . . if we share Christ's suffering, we will also share his glory” (Romans 8:17 GNT).

Christ has already experienced everything you suffer on this earth. He suffered abuse, harassment, opposition, criticism, and plots against him. If you’re God’s child, then, just like you share in Jesus’ suffering, you will also share in his reward in heaven forever.

Do you realize what this means? Because you countered harassment and bullying with humility and generosity and love, you're going to share in God's glory for eternity.

What an amazing promise and gift!

By Rick Warren