Reward – Praying Pint

40.m. “Surely the thing is known.”

Exodus 2:11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.

Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

Moses boldly owned the cause of God’s people. It is plain from Heb 11. that this was done in faith, with the full purpose of leaving the honours, wealth, and pleasures of his rank among the Egyptians. By the grace of God he was a partaker of faith in Christ, which overcomes the world. He was willing, not only to risk all, but to suffer for his sake; being assured that Israel were the people of God. By special warrant from Heaven, which makes no rule for other cases, Moses slew an Egyptian, and rescued an oppressed Israelites. Also, he tried to end a dispute between two Hebrews. The reproof Moses gave, may still be of use. May we not apply it to disputants, who, by their fierce debates, divide and weaken the Christian church? They forget that they are brethren. He that did wrong quarreled with Moses. It is a sign of guilt to be angry at reproof. Men know not what they do, nor what enemies they are to themselves, when they resist and despise faithful reproofs and reprovers. Moses might have said, if this be the spirit of the Hebrews, I will go to court again, and be the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. But we must take heed of being set against the ways and people of God, by the follies and peevishness of some persons that profess religion. Moses was obliged to flee into the land of Midian. God ordered this for wise and holy ends. (Henry)

We don’t always know the plans and purposes of God for our lives until we have lived long enough to see how His hand has guided, protected, placed, and like a great conductor, orchestrated our lives into a beautiful harmony with His plans and purposes.

34.p. ” In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe”

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 3:12     Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

Hebrews 4:2    For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

Hebrews 4:6   Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,

Revelation 21:8   But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur

Numbers 14:11    And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?

John 3:18-19   Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

Psalms 78:22   because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power.

Psalms 78:32    In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe.

Proverbs 11:18     The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.

Jeremiah 29:13-14   You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you, declares the LORD,

Brethren, we call ourselves Christians; let us be honest with ourselves, and rigid in the investigation of the thoughts of our own hearts. Is there a wish for God there? Is there an aching void in His absence, or do we shovel cartloads of earthly rubbish into our hearts, and thus dull desires that can be satisfied only with Him? These are not questions to which any one has a right to expect an answer from another; they are not questions that any Christian man can safely shirk answering to himself and to God. The measure of our seeking is actually settled by the measure of our desire. (MacLaren)

Having one eye of our hearts and minds tuned into and seeking and desiring what the world has to offer, and having the other eye turned toward heaven will not find a place for things of God. The things of earth will eat away any desire and seeking that our hearts and minds would have for things of God. Whatever this world may shout loud and strong into the ears of any who would listen will influence their path in life and hinder any things of God from being heard or seen. The heart of man must want to see and hear things of God above what this world has to offer or they will blindly and deafly follow after what seems right in their own eyes and social norms.

Seek to have God open His Word and give you understanding, knowledge, and wisdom of His grace, mercy and love.

31.f. “For with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain”

Matthew 6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Luke 12:15    And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Ezekiel 33:31    And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.

Matthew 16:27  For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

Hebrews 2:1  Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

Although Christians are to be seen doing good works, they must not do good works simply to be seen. The idea is when we do righteous deeds for the attention and applause of men, their attention and applause is our reward. It is much better to receive a reward from your Father in heaven. Some may say the important thing is to do the good deed regardless of the motive. There is some truth to this in that it is better to do a good thing with the wrong motive than to do wrong. However, Jesus is telling us that motive/reward can be either earthly or Godly. If our motive is to have earthly recognition, that will be our reward. If our motive is for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ, then our reward is His honor and glory for which our soul rejoices and our heart praises. It is out of the heart, soul, and mind of those who intentionally choose to live every moment of their life in such a way that all of their actions, words, and thoughts are built on the foundation of honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ.

31.c. “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?”

Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

Psalms 145:9 The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

Jesus understood we will have enemies, yet we are to respond to them in love, trusting that God will protect our cause in the best way possible. It is not in our human nature to have a positive “love” towards an enemy, who by word or actions, does us hurtful or harmful things.

“I believe that he says this: ‘This is the day of free grace; this is the time of mercy.’ The hour for judgment is not yet, when he will separate between the good and the bad; when he will mount the judgment seat and award different portions to the righteous and to the wicked.” (Spurgeon)

This is an example – that we also are to love our enemies and bless them if we can. In doing so, we show ourselves to be sons of our Father in heaven. “We are made sons by regeneration, through faith in the Son; but we are called to make our calling and election sure – to approve and vindicate our right to that sacred name. We can only do this by showing in word and act that the divine life and principles inspire, encourage, and empower us.” (Meyer)

Remember, Jesus here taught the character of the citizens of His kingdom. We should expect that character to be different from the character seen in the world. There are many good reasons why more should be expected from Christians than others: “They claim to have something that others do not have; they claim to be renewed, repentant, and redeemed by Jesus Christ. They do in fact have something that others do not have; they are in fact renewed, repentant, and redeemed by Jesus Christ. They have a power that others do not have; they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them. They have the Spirit of God dwelling within them. They have a better future than others do.” (Guzik)

29.s. “Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man”

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

2 Chronicles 31:21    And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.

Psalms 119:10   With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!

Psalms 119:34   Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.

Jeremiah 3:10    Yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but in pretense, declares the LORD.”

Ephesians 6:6-7    not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,  rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,

We are always tempted to work just as hard as we have to, thinking we only have to please man. But God wants every worker to see that ultimately, they work for Him. Therefore, they should do it with their whole heart as if they are working for Jesus Christ. God promises to reward those who work with that kind of heart. For ancient Christian slaves and for modern Christian workers, there is no guarantee on earth of fairness of treatment from those whom they work for. Sometimes partiality means that bad workers are unfairly rewarded and good employees are penalized or left unrewarded. Paul assures both our ancient brethren and us that there is a final rewarding and punishment, and with this there is no partiality. (Guzik)

We have all had bosses, supervisors, and colleagues who left us feeling unappreciated, worthless, and not treated fairly. It seems as if going to work is a burden and there is no scenario in our head that can bring back the joy we once had. We can get upset and mad and defeated. We are not slaves and can quit and move on to another job, essentially at will if we find ourselves in this type of situation. We don’t have to keep our eyes on Jesus and be an example, we can just quit. It is hard to keep the thought of “working as if to Jesus Christ” and at the same time being treated unfairly. Scripture is telling us to keep our eyes on Jesus and work as if to Him. I can’t tell you how many times in my life/career where I lost sight of Jesus and only saw the unfairness of how I was being treated. Just getting up in the morning and going to work was painful. I had fallen into a pity party and, looking back, can see how I was not honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ in these thoughts. Pride and self-worth were telling me I deserve better and ought to be respected more highly. I did not act appropriately. I did not give any thought to my testimony to others through my actions. I did not give thought to being kind, patient, and at peace no matter what circumstance I was in. It was as if I was saying I’ll treat you right if you treat me right. Where in scripture does it say this? It does not. It does tell us to be long-suffering.

Jesus is our example. The Son of God bore the pain of whipping, beatings, and crucifixion. He could have called down thousands of angels and been spared the torture and humiliation but chose to do the will of God. In such, He gave His life so that we might have life, eternal life. He is our example to follow. Oh, that we would keep our eyes on Him every moment of every day and no matter what comes, no matter how e are treated, we work as if we are working for Him and His honor and glory.

27.x. “Therefore be imitators of God”

Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Leviticus 11:45   For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

Matthew 5:48   You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Luke 6:35-36    But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.  Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

1 John 4:11   Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

The idea is simple – that we are to make God our example and model. What good does it to us to compare ourselves against others. It is a very practical application of being a Christian, born again, a new creation. Parents know firsthand how much training, encouragement, and repetition is required in raising an infant to a young adult. From early on most will try to model how to walk, talk, and think appropriately. Model yourself after God’s Holiness. We are told to meditate on what God has done, who He is, and what He can do. We are told to fearfully respect, honor, and glorify Him. We are told to praise and worship Him. Here we are given practical application of this – model how you think, how you act, and what you do after God’s demonstrated love, mercy, and grace. God’s behavior toward us becomes our measure for our behavior towards one another.” It is important to see that God is far more than our example. Many errors come into the church when Jesus is presented only as an example of behavior. We are not saved by the example of Jesus, but once saved His example is meaningful to us. God is more than our example, but He is also our example.” (Guzik)

As we do imitate God, we become representatives of God, especially before those who have shut God out of their life. “What are we sent into the world for? Is it not that we may keep men in mind of God, whom they are most anxious to forget? If we are imitators of God, as dear children, they will be compelled to recollect that there is a God, for they will see his character reflected in ours. I have heard of an atheist who said he could get over every argument except the example of his godly mother: he could never answer that.” (Spurgeon)

25.u. “For many deceivers have gone out into the world”

2 Corinthians 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Acts 20:30    and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

2 John 1:7-11    For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.  Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.  Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,  for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

Jeremiah 23:14-15   But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.”  Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets: “Behold, I will feed them with bitter food and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has gone out into all the land.”

It is so easy for all people, including Christians, to be taken in by image, charisma, and outward appearances. Many will only recognize evil if it is openly and unanimously declared as evil. Why is this? Sometimes I wonder if it is more because of our itching ears wanting it this way. We want our pastor to be one of influence, great in clarity of speech, and proclaiming insights we never knew. We don’t want to diligently search scripture to know and understand – discern – the Word of God through the leading and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. We want to be spoon-fed with what our pastor has to say about scripture. We don’t spend time reading and studying God’s Word with a desire to have God give us wisdom in understanding and applying it. The Word of God was not given to pastors only. God has given us His Word so that we can know Him more and more and live more and more in ways that truly honor and glorify Him. Do we think that being spoon-fed a few select scriptures once per week will fill us? Do we think being spoon-fed once per week we will have any chance of discerning what is right and wrong, true and false, good and bad in the sight of God? This lack of desire to know and study God’s Word leaves us open to embracing lies and deceptions of Satan himself, who transforms himself into an angel of light. If Satan were to appear before a human audience, he would be regarded as an angel of light. Those who can discern it look at those who cannot and wonder with amazement at how easily they have been deceived.

“It is generally said that Satan has three forms under which he tempts men: 1. The subtle serpent. 2. The roaring lion. 3. The angel of light. He often, as the angel of light, persuades men to do things under the name of religion, which is disruptive, destructive, and disloyal of things of God. As a roaring lion, the horrors of all kinds of twisted persecutions and atrocities occur. As the subtle serpent, he frequently and easily deceives us so that that which is right is called wrong and that which is wrong is called right. He appeals to the weak and strong, learned and unlearned, wise and foolish, proud and humble, rich and poor. He temps us all when we least expect it. Why does God’s Word tell us to be diligent, resist, stand firm, and remain faithful? It is because of the lies and deceptions of the father of all lies and deceit. How are we to know and discern that which is true and false, right and wrong, good and bad if the Word of God is not desired in our lives more than being spoon-fed once per week? Carefully study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

12.w. “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.”

Psalms 19:7  The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Proverbs 8:10-11    Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,  for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

Job 28:12  “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living. The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’ and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’ It cannot be bought for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price. It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire. Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.

Proverbs 3:13-15    Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,  for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.  She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Proverbs 16:16     How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

Jeremiah 15:16  Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.

If God’s Word was removed from you would you miss it? Would your soul feel hunger pangs? Whenever you sit down and open your Bible, you’re feasting on something that is “more… desired… than gold… sweeter… than honey”, When people lose their appetites, we worry about them. As Christians, we should have a hearty appetite for God’s Word and for the kind of righteous living it produces. Hungering for spiritual food is a good indication of our walk with God. We lose our appetite for God’s Word there is a health decline in our hearts, minds, and souls. Our understanding of the spiritual things of God is lost. Our knowledge of His great and precious promises is lost. Our ability to see spiritual battles and lies of Satan is lost. Our ability to honor, worship, glorify, follow, obey, trust, and rely on God is lost. If you have no hunger and appetite for God’s Word there is a good chance you are nearsighted, blind, and have forgotten the great price that was paid through grace, mercy, and love for you. Your walk will have the appearance of godliness and your words will have the sound of godliness but in your spirit, you are dying or dead. God’s word is not to be taken lightly. How are you to claim promises you never know? How are you to fight spiritual battles you never see? How are you to recognize sin in your life? How are you going to be able to walk by faith? How are you going to encourage, build-up, and strengthen yourself, your family, your church, and the lost? Without an appetite for God’s Word, you are becoming nothing more than walking dead.

Peter said: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of a reminder since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.”

11.r. “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Nahum 1:15 Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows, for never again shall the worthless pass through you; he is utterly cut off.

Isaiah 40:9-10     Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”  Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.

Acts 10:36    As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),

Romans 10:15   And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Isaiah 52:7    How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

The good news of Jesus Christ is what brings peace to our souls. What is in this good news that brings peace? Jesus Christ came to save sinners from their sin, destruction, purposeless lives, fear, anxiousness, unhappiness, loneliness, hopeless lives, meaningless existence, and self-centered reliance. Nothing in this world has to offer will bring eternal lasting peace. Nothing, and yet we chase after these false hopes day after day after day. We chase after peace, hope, happiness, and purpose but we avoid the very person in Jesus Christ that will bring it to our souls. We seem to avoid what the good news is – Forgiveness of Sin. Redemption. Salvation. The good news is not about health, wealth, prosperity, power, strength, or inner peace when sin is not addressed in our lives. The good news is unwarranted and underserved abounding grace and merciful forgiveness. When we are not actively conscious of our sinful nature or what is considered sinful in the eyes of God, we will not have a heart that is truly thankful or that is truly seeking to humbly honor, praise, serve, follow, trust, and obey. The blessings God gives to us as His children are after we experience the life-changing effects of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Praise God, He enlightens our souls to sin and brings the news of Jesus Christ to our hearts and minds. In this Good News, we will find what our soul longs for, peace. Inner peace with our Heavenly Father. If there is no speaking of sin or our sinful nature then there is no need for the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Psalms 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

6.w. Surely there is a God who judges on earth.

Revelation 6:9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

Deuteronomy 32:43 “Rejoice with him, O heavens; bow down to him, all gods, for he avenges the blood of his children and takes vengeance on his adversaries. He repays those who hate him and cleanses his people’s land.”

Psalms 58:11 Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.”

When the 5th seal is opened John sees these martyrs and hears their cry “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” These have been martyred for witnessing and living for Jesus Christ. These are those who believed in and proclaimed the gospel after the removal (rapture) of believers prior to the opening of the seals. Standing firm to the end is not a way to be saved but the evidence that a person is really committed to Jesus. Persistence is not a means to earn salvation; it is the by-product of a truly devoted life. Times and trials serve to sift true Christians from false or fair-weather Christians. When you are pressured to give up and turn your back on Christ, don’t do it. Remember the benefits of standing firm, and continue to live for Christ.

Remember these martyrs have been told to wait until the full number of those who will be killed for their belief in Jesus Christ is complete. When I give just a small amount of thought to this I am ashamed for what I think is a trial in my life. I am ashamed of the times I think the trials I face are “BIG” for the trials I have faced surely have not ended in death for believing in Jesus Christ – the ultimate test of faith.