God's reward is far greater than any suffering you may encounter in life!
Matthew 5:12, “Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
Text: Matthew 5:10-12
Jesus is saying that persecution should actually cause us to rejoice. There are many positive things about oppression but one of the best reasons to celebrate is because of the reward awaiting us in heaven.
Jesus takes the persecution of His saints very seriously as can be seen during the Damascus road experience of the apostle Paul.
The Lord asked Paul (then Saul), "Why are you persecuting me?" (Acts 9:4)
He didn't say, "Why are you persecuting my people?"
but "Why are you persecuting me?"
It is not actually us that people are rejecting, but they are rejecting the One we represent. Therefore, Jesus promised to share His reward with us. All the glory and honor that Jesus has and will receive will be shared with those who have suffered shame for His name's sake (Rom. 8:17). NKJV
What a great reward! Focus on the reward not the implications of the journey!
Focusing on the prize instead of the persecution can actually make us rejoice when people speak against us (Acts 5:41). 41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
Paul actually longed to experience the fellowship that Jesus provided to those who suffered for His sake (Phil. 3:10). 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
God's reward is infinitely more significant than any suffering we will ever encounter.
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