The scripture says the heart of men is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. But if humans who can be very mean and wicked still pay their workers salary at the end of the month, how much more will God do for those who work for Him?
Even those who work for the devil who is the father of all liars, in the interim still get the benefits of their allegiance, though ultimately he is going to destroy them if they refuse to repent. How much more those who serve the king of kings and Lord of Lords?
One of the reasons many people have not fully subscribed to
discipleship is because they don’t know the rewards of discipleship. God is not
a user of men, He is a blesser of men. God has never asked the seed of Jacob to
serve Him for nothing. He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. God
said a true disciple is worthy of his reward. Are you contemplating, who will
take care of your wife and children? How you will pay the bills? How your future
will be? Just like Peter, do you want to know the reward of true discipleship?
That is what I want to show you in this post. Please read carefully to the end.
And Jesus answered and said, verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the world to come eternal life. Mark 10:29-30
The
rewards of discipleship begin here on the earth and continue long after we are
gone from this world into eternity. In practical terms, Jesus guarantees 100%
Return on Investment (ROI) for every willing disciple who wants to dare the
cost. We can group the rewards of discipleship into two as Present Blessings
and Future Blessings. Let’s consider them in details below.
A. PRESENT BLESSINGS
1. Jesus offers peace the world cannot
give, to calm the troubled heart - John 14:27
One
of the present blessings of discipleship is the peace of the Lord- inner peace
and peace with God. When troubles come like the storms of the sea, our only
anchor is the peace that Jesus gives. We can sleep like a baby at rest on his
mother’s chest in a world that is full of trouble because of the peace of God
which passes all understanding, flowing like a river in our hearts. That’s a
blessing money cannot buy. That’s one of the rewards of discipleship.
2. His words inspire joy to lift our
spirits out of any depression- John 15:11
When
darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people, the people of this
world resort to depression and suicide, but at such times His words inspire joy
unspeakable that lifts our hearts and spirit out of any kind depression,
filling us with strength to overcome. The joy of the lord is one of the Rewards of discipleship. We can rejoice always, regardless of the precarious circumstances
surrounding us because of Jesus. He is our joy in every season.
3. He offers to those who follow Him
the abiding love of God, which casts out fear - John 15:9; 1Jn 4:18
As
times and seasons change, the economy of this world continues to crumble and
the hearts of men begin to fail them, fear and uncertainties become their order
of the day. But for us who follow Jesus, we abide in the love of God which
casts out all fears. We are rest assured that God who didn’t spare His only son
but freely gave Him up for us shall also freely with Him give us all things. We
rest in His love which cannot change. Oh what a blessing more cannot buy!
4. He makes it possible for us to be
members of the family of God- Mark 10:28-30
One
of the rewards of discipleship is that it makes us a member of the
household and family of God in heaven and on earth. In heaven, you become a
member of the God-class and a son of the living God. Here on earth, you receive
many spiritual brothers, sisters and brethren to fellowship with and relate
with in godly manners. It gives you another home away from your natural home. You
receive spiritual father and mother who can advise you, teach you, correct you
and discipline you when you go off the track. That’s a very big blessing.
5. When you follow Jesus, He will make
you- Mark 4:19
There
is nothing like a self-made man. For no man can make himself great, rich or
successful. We only have rich, successful and great men made by God. It is ingratitude
that makes a man to arrogate his success to his own strength. By strength shall
no man prevail and without Him, we can do nothing. So when you follow Jesus, he
will make you great, successful and rich. Peter followed Him as an ordinary, illiterate
and unknown fisherman, but Jesus made him a global Apostle, author, healing and
miracle Evangelist, eternal Excellency and the joy of many generations to
come. In the year 2001, I followed Jesus
as a wheelbarrow pusher, street hawker and poverty stricken struggling young
man, but today, it’s a different story. See the champion Jesus has made out of
me and He’s still making me. This is one of the rewards of discipleship, He
will make you all that He created you to be- a champion and wonder to your
world.
B. FUTURE BLESSINGS
1. We shall be saved from the wrath of
God which is to come – Acts 17:31; Rom 5:9.
A
day of reckoning is coming, wherein God will judge the world in righteousness
through His Son Jesus Christ and we who have become His faithful disciples
shall be saved from the wrath of God which is to come. What a blessing to
escape the coming judgment! That’s one of the rewards of discipleship.
2.
We can look forward with joyful anticipation of eternity with God in heaven,
free from sorrow, pain and death - Rev 21:1-8.
3. We can look forward with joyful
anticipation to receive crowns and many other honours in heaven- 2 Timothy
4:7-8
The
greatest desire of a Believer shouldn’t be to make heaven at last, rather it
should be to receive crowns in heaven. Because receiving crowns in heaven is
far greater than just entering heaven. When you read the account of Abraham and
the poor, sick and homeless Lazarus who died and went to heaven (Luke 16:19-25), you will discover that
their placement in heaven is not the same. Abraham had his own mansion in heaven
reserved for him based on his faith and kingdom services while he was on the
earth but Lazarus never had one room in heaven, he had to be accommodated in
Abraham’s quarters. You will recall that we never read in the Bible where
Lazarus did anything valuable for the kingdom of God while he was on the earth.
Though he was righteous and afflicted by all manner of troubles from the devil,
his concern was not on Kingdom service but just to eat the crumbs that fell
from the rich man’s table. That’s very pathetic and he died at that spot. Don’t
be like Lazarus. Aim for the crowns like Apostle Paul. One of the rewards of
discipleship is the crown of righteousness which will be given to you in
heaven.
CONCLUSION
There
are many other blessings of discipleship we could mention that are enjoyed by disciples
of Jesus such as divine health, divine protection, supernatural supply and
provision, divine wisdom, knowledge and understanding, prosperity and long life
etc but these suffice to demonstrate that though discipleship is costly, the
rewards far exceed the cost! Now that we have understood the nature of discipleship,
its cost and rewards, I hope that we would want to become true disciples of
Jesus Christ. Remain blessed forever.
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