February 10 Thought for the day...God gives rewards

Some days it is easy to think, "Does anything I do matter?" It is so easy in our world to become discouraged but God calls us to not be discouraged but instead to be encouragers. This verse and its meaning will help you stay encouraged.

"So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!" Hebrews 10:35

In the world, when you put in a solid work day you expect, as you should, a full days pay for your work. The writer of Hebrews is saying God will do that and so much more, for people as they pour out of their hearts and lives in the service of the Lord.

The word used for "great reward" here is a compound word meaning "recompense, reimbursement, settlement, or reparation". God is saying that like a person who has worked hard deserves payment so God will do the same. God will not be out-done. When you follow Him in fullness, He already has plans to bless you in this life and the one to come. Jesus put it this way Luke 18:29,30 

"Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.”

To go even further, because of the way this word is compounded, its further meaning is "reparation". In other words, many have suffered loss from choosing to stand for the Lord. It has cost some relationships, money, jobs, positions and so much more. God's promise in this scripture is, anything lost will be repaid by the Lord. He will either force the enemy to restore or He will cause you to be repaid for your cost some way.

The requirement for this blessing is simply, don't quit on God! "Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord." This is where many have an even greater loss. They have had a great loss then give up on God, just as He is preparing to restore and bless beyond the restoring point. What do they do? Stop reading their Bible, praying, going to church, living the life. God has so much more! Expect the reward! Hang in there, it's coming!