Anticipating Your Reward

Old Treasures on Tuesdays 👑

“And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward” (Matt. 10:42, NKJV).

Daddy God takes great delight in honoring His children. As you can ascertain from this verse, He is constantly looking for ways to reward us. Not even the offering of a simple cup of cold water goes unnoticed by Him. It reminds me a bit of a kindergarten teacher who is extra eager to fill up her students’ charts with smiley faces and gold stars. How the Father loves to celebrate every one of our triumphs, both big and small!

Sadly, some of us are living under the impression that He is examining us with a magnifying glass, looking for the tiniest mistakes we might make along the way. We imagine a scowl on His face inspired by our floundering. That image couldn’t be farther from the truth. Rather than scrutinizing our shortcomings, He washes them away in His crimson tide. His enormous love covers over even a multitude of sins (1 Pe. 4:8).

At the same time, I will not deny that God’s eyes are indeed watchful, ever penetratingly perceptive. They are not eagerly searching out our failings, however, but rather our desire for Him. As soon as He finds even the tiniest movement in our souls towards Him, His heart starts beating faster.

“Look, Son! She is worshipping Me in spite of the painful day the adversary has hurled at her! Is that not an exceedingly beautiful sight to behold?” Daddy exclaims, His emotions profoundly moved. He has already motioned to an angel to make careful note of this moment in His Book of Remembrance (Mal.3:16).

In expression of His overflowing heart, oh how He loves to reward you! He knows you need this. He has created us humans to be motivated by the anticipation of positive recompense. This is not a bad or selfish thing; in fact, He made us this way in His own image. Even Jesus endured the cross “for the joy set before Him” (Heb. 12:2, NIV).

In reference to this verse, Holy Spirit whispered to me one afternoon, “Set the joy!” He wants us to purposefully set the joy of our anticipated reward before the eyes of our hearts. This will energize us as we push forward along the race He has marked out for us (v. 1).

Unspeakably glorious eternal recompense awaits us in heaven. We are to look forward to that bliss with exceeding great joy. Keep in mind though, Daddy also holds out to us a wealth of reward in this lifetime. Don’t think that you have to wait for heaven to receive all the benefits of His gratitude!

Throughout the entire Bible, we find verses that speak of the earthly blessings that come to those who serve Him wholeheartedly. Take this one for example: “If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures” (Job 36:11, NKJV). Jesus also assured His disciples that anyone who has made a genuine sacrifice for Him will not fail to “receive a hundred times as much here in this life” (Mark 10:30, GW).

Make sure to hold this truth close when Holy Spirit moves on your heart to give unto God something that will cost you. In that moment, rejoice in a new opportunity to experience His lavish generosity. There is absolutely no way you will ever be able to outgive Him. As you pour out with unrestrained love whatever He is asking of you, set the joy! Visualize “a hundred times as much,” bringing enhanced wellbeing to your life in a hundred different ways. Thank Him, even as you worship Him passionately with your offering, for the immeasurable blessings to come!

“For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him…” (Heb. 6:10, NLT).

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Do you picture God as eager to reward you?