-GREAT IS
YOUR REWARD ~~

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
--
Your Father who sees
in secret will Himself
reward you openly.
--Matthew 6:4
---
God has a reward program. Jesus often spoke of His desire to reward us for loyally serving Him. When we are persecuted for His sake, for example, He says to "rejoice...for great is your reward in heaven" (Matt. 5:12). In contrast to The Pharisees' pious habit of giving, praying, and fasting in public, Jesus instructed us to do these things privately, because "your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly" (6:4,6,18). When it comes to living for Jesus, faithfulness never ultimately puts your life in a deficit position, regardless of what it costs.

But we don't serve Jesus for the rewards. When He died for us on the cross, He did far more for us than we deserve. Loyalty to Him is an act of worship that expresses our loving gratitude for His love toward us. In return, He delights to encourage us with the assurance that ultimately His rewards will outweigh whatever we have given up for Him.

--Live for Jesus--regardless of the cost.
--
-WHAT IS DONE FOR CHRIST IN THIS LIFE
-WILL BE REWARDED IN THE LIFE TO COME.