JESUS CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN!!
"This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11, NKJV)
Devotion #13 of 15

HIS REWARD IS WITH HIM
     We must not close this series without proclaiming this wonderful aspect of Christ's return--He will bring His reward with Him!. Speaking of the kingdom of God, Jesus, said "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come" (Luke 19:12-13). Christ's salvational dealings with us are like that. He has dispensed His goods to us and returned to heaven to assume the throne. But He did not abandon us by going back to heaven. He will  RETURN! What He has left with us is our stewardship, because it belongs to Him. His word is, "Occupy till I come." And why so? Because not only will we be held accountable, He will bring His reward with Him when He returns!

     "And, behold, I come quickly; and My REWARD is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (Rev 22:12). "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then He shall REWARD every man according to his works" (Matt 16:27). No person serves God for nothing--Jesus is bringing His reward back with Him! Our labor is not in vain n the Lord--Jesus is bringing His reward back with Him!

Do not shun thinking of your reward
     Some well meaning teachers resist the idea of laboring for reward, but the reality of REWARD is taught by both Scripture and reason. Jesus made strong appeals to the incentive of rewards. "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your REWARD in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you" (Matt 5:12). "That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall REWARD thee openly" (Matt 6:4). "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall REWARD thee openly" (Matt 6:6). "That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall REWARD thee openly" (Matt 6:18). "He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's REWARD; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's REWARD" (Matt 10:41). "And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his REWARD" (Matt 10:42). 

      Apostolic doctrine includes references to a coming reward, and strong appeals are made to believers to strive to obtain it (1 Cor 3:8.14; Col 3:24; Heb 10:35). 

PRAYER POINT: Father, thank you for the promises of a reward that is great! Often, from the earthly point of view, my labor appears  to be pointless. But by faith I know this is not the case. I thank and praise you, in Jesus' name, for speaking so clearly on this very wonderful aspect of your great salvation.

-- TOMORROW: DO NOT BE BEGUILED OF YOUR REWARD! --