Reward and compensation!
Verse for Today: Sunday, March 03, 2013
Genesis 41:52 – Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.” (NLT)
Life in the land of sufferings of various kinds is not easy to go through. When we are made to suffer for no fault of ours, the frustration is paramount. We find it difficult to understand why we go through such sufferings. The world tries to put us under the cloud of suspicion and doubt. Sufferings come in procession and take us to a chain of bitter experiences. When we come out of one, another persecution awaits us. It is at this time that patience eludes us and makes us wanting to quit. But God allows persecutions in our lives and uses it to mold us for His purposes. Joseph was a prey to persecution and sufferings of various kinds one after the other for thirteen years. He was hated and rejected by his own brothers and they sold him into slavery in a far country. Later he was morally tempted, falsely accused and imprisoned. Even when he did good to co-prisoners, his biggest benefactor forgot him. But God did not forget him and elevated him to the second highest position in the country and gave him authority over those who falsely accused and imprisoned him. The lonely Joseph was given a family and children. As children were born to him, Joseph found meaningfulness in life. He took his children as compensation for the sufferings he endured. He was rewarded for his patience, faithfulness, godliness and righteousness. The God who did not forget Joseph will not forget us as we go through sufferings of various kinds today. He challenges us to be patient and waiting for His time to come for our reward.
Dear friend, are you enduring persecution and sufferings of various kinds in spite of your faithfulness? Are you a victim of manipulations and schemes of the enemy to malign you? Such experiences were in the lives of God’s servants like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Nehemiah, Moses and Paul. It was not easy for them to go through bitter persecution and false accusations. But God gave them patience and strength to keep fighting battles against the evil forces. He was with them as they were threatened and maligned. He gave them the faith to hold on and not to quit. But when the season of sufferings passed by, God elevated some of them to greater positions. Some, like Paul, had to go through such experiences all through their lives, and found that God helped them to fight the good fight and finish their course with patience and faith. Joseph went through such bitter and painful experiences all alone and there was none to plead his case. He was lonely, isolated and battered. But the vision God gave him during his adolescent years was in his thoughts. He kept going by putting all his faith in God’s faithfulness. He attributed all the grace he received to his God. He took the birth of his children as a compensation for the sufferings, grief and loneliness he endured. Thus Joseph was able to give glory to God for all that had happened in his life. The life of Joseph is a great challenge to all the suffering children of God to hold on to His promises and wait patiently. God will compensate us for all our painful experiences with special blessings from Him. Sometimes we get a reversal of our painful situations and at other times we will enjoy God’s peace and grace until the last breath. But ultimately God takes glory to Himself for all that happens in our lives. As we continue to serve God with patience, determination and commitment, He will give us the strength to keep going by holding on to His promise of rewards at the Bema.
Colossians 3:24 – Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that Master you are serving is Christ. (NLT)
Thought for Today
Serving the Lord with patience in trying times will find its fulfillment with ample rewards.
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