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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