Rewards-Now or Later?

“So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.” (Luke 17:10)

Jesus needed His disciples to understand their proper place concerning their service to Him. They were to serve Him now for the joy ahead. This is the same way Jesus served His Father – service now / joy later. Do you think it is possible for you and me to simply serve the LORD from our heart now - without an expectation for immediate rewards?

The Lord may well affirm our faith-driven obedience. This affirmation can come through prayer,

through words of fellow-workers, through visible results, through Scripture and so many more ways. Because of our work-orientation in this life, we seem to readily apply the same to our spiritual walk. “I work and I get rewarded.”

When followers of Christ obey the Lord, they should not think they need or deserve an immediate reward from the Lord—the reward will follow when the service is completed.

So, I challenge you to count it all joy to work for the Lord, love Him for the opportunity, and continue to seek Him and His will?

—Russ Sharrock

 

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Prayer Requests

1)  In the village of dhepaguda, please pray for the man who has suffered for two years not being able to walk. Medications are not helping him.

2)  In the village of Ruguda, a mother has given birth to her baby two months premature. The baby is very weak, and has now been transported to the hospital in Paralakhemundi. Please  prayer that the baby will gain strength and grow healthy. And that the mother will soon be able to take the child home with her.

3)  Two Sundays ago, Missionary Ekalabya Jagaranga who has been trying to plant a new church in the village of Silimi in Orissa, 20 young men gathered and protested the planned ministry and worship service in this village, and threatened them with death. Out of fear for their lives, the people did not meet that Sunday. Please pray that the Lord God will change the hearts of those who threaten His people. And give the believers the faith and courage to continue to reach out with the good new of Jesus Christ.