1312. The Believer's Reward in This Life

The Believer's Reward in This Life

"Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Mat_11:29).

We have considered how the believer loses his life, so far as a worldly view of that life is concerned; let us now consider what he receives here and now, in view of his sacrifice.

1. A life of rest. "Ye shall find rest unto your souls (lives)" (Mat_11:29). The wicked may have many things which the righteous have not, but the wicked never have rest in life. They are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters continually throw up mire and dirt.

The saved have rest in their life. God says of them, "Trust in the Lord * *; Delight thyself also in the Lord * *; Commit thy way unto the Lord * *; Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him" (Psa_37:3-7).

The righteous are the sheep of His pastures. They know what it is to lie down in the green pastures, and to be led by the waters of quietness.

2. A life of praise. Mary said, "My soul (life) doth magnify the Lord" (Luk_1:46). The life of the sacrificial saint is always filled with praises. The converts at Pentecost ate "their meat with gladness and with singleness of heart, praising God" (Act_2:46-47).

The disciples "departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name" (Act_5:41).

Stephen's face, in dying, was as the face of an angel (see Act_6:15).

When the eunuch was saved, "he went on his way rejoicing" (Act_8:39). The disciples, when they heard Paul and Barnabas, "were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost" (Act_13:52).

3. A life of patience. "In your patience possess ye your souls (lives)" (Luk_21:19). The Lord Jesus was telling the disciples how they should be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; He was telling them that some of them should be put to death; that they should be hated of all men for His name's sake; then He said, "In your patience possess ye your souls."

What a beautiful life is the life which never frets. And this is the life which is promised to us. We have heard of the patience of Job, and we know the salvation of God.

Surely, we have need of patience, for, after we have endured, we shall receive the promise.

4. A life of fellowship. "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul (life)" (Act_4:32).

Is there anything more beautiful than the oneness, the unity, which exists among the lives of the redeemed?

There is no fellowship so endearing, there is no unity so true as that of saints.

Paul wrote unto the Philippians, "That ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind (life) striving together for the faith of the Gospel" (Php_1:27).

Think of lives knit together in one purpose. An army marching in perfect step under the command of the Risen Lord.

The believer may give his life for others and for Christ, but Christ gives him one hundredfold, in this life and life for evermore.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR