I expect something that I believe few that have been saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ expect, to be blessed. I expect to be blessed because Proverbs 3:6 says I will be.
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
If He is directing my path, I am blessed.
“But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” (Mark 10:30)
None of my immediate family or any of my close friends from long ago serve the Lord, and so many years ago I broke ties with them, I left them and have received a new family that it will take eons to become acquainted with.
“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 10:32)
I have done so numerous times, and I am doing so again now by writing these letters to you.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)
Never ashamed.
There is a time to speak and a time to remain silent, but I am not embarrassed or ashamed to be an ambassador to the Kingdom of the Most High. And I expect to be blessed because of these things.
“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matt. 5:12)
Reviled? Yes. Mocked, ostracized, rebuked, laughed at, scorned? Yes, and blessed because of it, because He matters more to me than even the one I love the most in this life, my wife.
Blessings here and eternal blessings waiting.
If you can repeat the following verse and mean it in the fullness of your heart, no matter the circumstances or the possible consequences to yourself, then you are already blessed more than many.
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21)
All who have been crucified with Christ are servants of the Living God, but not all serve in the same fullness of measure. That measure I believe is offered to all who call Jesus Christ Lord, but life, this life and the flesh are far too great a hindrance for them to seek for ways to be beyond profitable.
“So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:10)
The gift of salvation is an unmeasurable gift, eternity in the presence of joy, and all who have been born-again will be there, but as Michael, as much as we know, is, for lack of more knowledgeable words, a greater, more powerful angel than some of his fellows, so are some here whose desire it is to see the name of the Living God exalted above the heavens.
“But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.” (Mark 10:40)
One will sit on the right and one on the left side of the Lord Jesus Christ. Why them? Why were these two, whoever they are, chosen for that honor?
“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1st Cor. 2:2)
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” (Phil. 3:10)
Blessed here and eternally blessed there.
You should expect this. Not in anyway because of your efforts, apart from Christ they are as dung, but because of Him.
“For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.” (Heb. 3:3)
This is not “doing good,” this is obedience for the sake of love, this is willingly dying to self, it is hating the world, standing against wickedness and unrighteousness. It is living your life solely for the glory of God, and there are more verses than I have paper for promising that those who do so will be blessed.
It is really quite simple my friends, what are you holding back from Him, what keeps you from saying, “Here am I, send me.” What is it you fear will happen to you if you completely let go of you?
Pain, suffering, grief, sorrow, persecutions?
What do you have, what would you not give up if He asks you to?
He who is our exceeding great reward is our reward here and for all eternity. Expect to be blessed in ways you cannot even begin to imagine.
