Read these three Scriptures carefully: '...He shall reward every man according to his works' (Matthew 16:27 KJV); '...You will have treasure in Heaven...' (Matthew 19:21 NIV); '...You will be repaid at the resurrection...' (Luke 14:14 NIV).
God is keeping track of what you do for Him each day. You have more to gain by serving the Lord than you ever imagined. Yes, He will bless and reward you in this life, but nothing by comparison to what awaits you in the next one. When you know that, simple decisions such as how you spend your time, your money and your energy suddenly become opportunities with great promise. Once you understand that, you begin to live with an unshakable certainty that everything you do today - matters forever. And that truth can change your life for the better! Jesus said: 'Blessed are you when men hate you...exclude you...and reject your name as evil...Rejoice in that day and leap for joy...' (Luke 6:22-23 NIV).
Now Jesus didn't mean that when you're mistreated on His behalf, you'll be so happy you'll want to dance an Irish jig. No, He said, 'Great is your reward in Heaven.' Those six words reveal why you can rejoice in the worst of circumstances. You see, there's a direct connection between something you do for God on earth, and something 'great' He's going to do for you in Heaven. Jesus isn't asking you to enjoy misery on His behalf; that's masochism. He's saying that your rewards in Heaven, for certain actions on earth, will be so wonderful that simply knowing they're coming can transform how you live now. It can actually create spontaneous outbursts of joy!
What a weekend i just had. Billy's 21st was AMAZING. His Dad and their family did such an amazing job and put so much work in to it - it was unbelievable. You don't realise how much those things cost and how much work goes into them until you have to organise one. It was an awesome night. I was so happy for him that all of the people that have played a part in raising him and turning him in to the awesome young man that he is were able to enjoy the night together. A few years ago there was so much conflict due to my choices and behaviour that would not have been possible. I was reminded on Saturday night of just how much God has blessed me and changed my life in the past 3 years. It was really neat.
I spent all day yesterday paying a high price for choosing to have a few glasses of bubbly though! It's funny - a lot of people who have had drinking problems think that if they ever touch the stuff again they will fall right back in to their old habits because they will love it so much. I - on the other hand - have 3 glasses of bubbly and spend the next 24 hours with a horrible headache and wondering what on earth it was about alcohol that ever appealed to me in the first place! What a huge reminder yesterday was of just why i quit drinking!
My head is much better today and i am in no hurry to ever drink again. We had a big family dinner last night and it was non alcoholic sparkling grape juice for me!
I was very grateful yesterday that i had completed my Sociology assignment prior to being stupid enough to get myself my first hangover in at least three years.
Right - i have a filthy house from it being full of teenagers who don't know the meaning of the words dish washing, vacuum, or laundry to clean and i am a bit lost without an assignment to work on at the moment so i better get busy doing something.
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