This week I’ve felt some pressure to add my quilts to an upcoming show. My old life was extremely competitive. Since Christ came in, I’ve increasingly wanted others to do well, succeed and be encouraged. It does not matter to me to have people praise my efforts because I know when God is enabling me and have an increasing desire that He is praised.
Today’s devotional is about enduring persecution because there is a reward in heaven. It made me think of ribbons won in a quilt show. That used to be important, but not so much anymore. For me, the greatest reward is the joy experienced by those who receive a quilt, and the joy of those who receive a ribbon.
Yes, a quilt takes many hours and considerable dollars to design, gather fabrics, and construct, and that could be considered a sacrifice, but when something is done in love, that is not an issue either. Moms who love their children do not gripe because the child needs them at three in the morning. I do not gripe because someone needs the comfort of a quilt no matter what it costs me to give it.
For the same reason, the promise of my reward in heaven is not a motivation to share Christ with others. That can make it too much about me, me, me when the good news is about Jesus and about those who need to hear of His love for them and who need to experience His unconditional love.
A woman once said to me, “I love helping people because it makes me feel so good.” I didn’t say it then, but have thought often, ‘but what if it doesn’t make you feel good?” What if love means hanging on a cross until you suffocate and die? What if loving others costs you your back account? Or health? Or all your spare time?
The beatitudes are not about love, but about attitudes and results. Some will want pride and confidence more than they want poverty of spirit and the kingdom of heaven. However, when Jesus comes in and puts us in His family, He also brings in a love that is so powerful that dumping pride and self-confidence becomes a delight, replacing that me, me, me with great joy in doing something good for someone else, regardless of the cost.
Yes, it is in the Christian experience to be persecuted, but the love of Christ endures . . .
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. (Hebrews 12:1–4)
He endured for the joy set before Him so He could give His people that joy, not only in the future but in the middle of our suffering.
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11–12)
Lord Jesus, some people are future oriented, always looking ahead. I’m not, nor do I think much about what is past. I understand why rewards could appeal to others. For me, living for You and loving others like You do is about joy right now. That means being filled with Your Spirit. The Spirit gives joy, even during hardship. I appreciate Your words in Matthew 5 and Your promises for the future yet I also am very grateful for the vitality of life You grant to me each moment of each day. You know my weaknesses and You supply the grace and peace to get me through, even enable joy when otherwise I might be devastated and filled with grief. Besides that, Your love drives me to speak up, to tell others the good news, without thinking how they might react negatively but with hope of the opposite and delight that I’ve done what You ask me to do. So what if I suffer? You suffered far more!
READ Hebrews 11 and note the results of faith. How are they all positive?
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