We live in a world where we need rewards to understand what we get in add-on returns, for e.g., when we use a credit / debit card there are reward points for usage of the Card, When we buy more in one store there is reward points added to the card, So the Add-on is we get more to what we bought originally, at set times we get 2X rewards and over a period we accumulate the rewards and redeem them with the choice of what we want.
In spiritual world also we had a similar situation where Jesus was confronted by the disciples on this question, Matt 19:27-30
To understand this better, read Matt 19:16-21 where Jesus was encountered by a “Rich man” who says he has followed all the things written in Law and asks Jesus what does he need to do to inherit eternal life, and Jesus says “Sell all your riches and you will get eternal life”, Hearing this the man walks away.
The disciples were with Jesus watching all these discussion with Rich Man and Jesus, after this Peter asks Jesus this question
'Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” 'Matthew 19:27
I am paraphrasing the question that Peter asked to Jesus “The rich man had richness, but we just left all we had and had come with you, what do we get in return following you or what reward can we get when we follow you?”
If disciple’s who were with Jesus has asked this question, we may also ask the same question to Jesus as we live in a “Rewards mindset Generation” to say what we get in return.
Rewards of following Jesus
We need to understand the basic principle on which God Operates when it comes to reward.
Jesus has a reward Principle: God will be a debtor to no man. It is impossible for us to give more to God than He gives back to us.
The way I look at reward of following Jesus are, I did reorder the rewards that was given in Matt 19 based on the spiritual maturity we may have
Basic reward
When Jesus is with us, we have Joy / Peace and Love of God in us. That’s the first reward that he gives to us.
Joy in the Holy Ghost, peace of conscience, the sense of God’s love in for all who follow Jesus
Contentment. When you follow Jesus, there is a contented frame of mind. In everything you have, you feel Content. Not needing a desire to get more. Many times, you may lack compared to others, but you are content with what you have.
Last / First & First / Last – Reward
Last / First & First / Last – Reward comes from Jesus Parable
'But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.' Matthew 19:30
Peter and the disciples knew they had given up a great deal to follow Jesus. Peter wanted to know what they would get in return. Through this parable Jesus assured Peter and the disciples that they will be rewarded – but the principle of many who are first will be last and the last first meant that God may not reward as man expects – even as the parable illustrated
Some think this parable speaks of the way that people come to God at different stages of their life. They may come at the beginning of their life, in their youth, in adulthood, in old age, or at the very end. It is best understood as a parable about grace and reward.
Last will be first, and the first last: This is the essence of God’s grace, when he rewards and blesses man according to his will and pleasure, not necessarily according to what men deserve.
The system of law is easy to figure out: You get what you deserve. The system of grace is foreign to us: God deals with us according to who He is, not according to who we are.
Our God is a God who does not show favouritism 'For God does not show favoritism. ' Romans 2:11
The point isn’t that all have the same reward – though all God’s people do go to the same heaven (where they will have reward in different measure).
The point is that God rewards on the principle of grace, and we should therefore expect surprises. He will never be less than fair but reserves the right to be more than fair as pleases Him. God’s grace always operates righteously.
The grace of God does not give us more blessing than we deserve – it gives blessing to us completely apart from the principle of deserving.
Living under grace is sort of a two-edged sword. Under grace, we can’t come to God complaining, “Don’t I deserve better than this”; because God will reply, “Does this mean that you really want me to give you what you deserve?”
Hundredfold reward
Jesus explains the rewards for our scarifies we do in the world
'And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. ' Matthew 19:29
This reward is based on the principle of God, it’s impossible for us to Give more to God than he gives back to us
Jesus talks about the scarifies we do in the world. Don’t relate this only to the ones that he says here alone “'And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake”, read the last word “For my Sake”
“For the Sake of Jesus” whatever you may have sacrificed, he will return the reward hundred fold, literally true in Spiritual sense to give you more for all the sacrifies you do for him
Second gift that’s given for the scarifies is the “inherit eternal life.”, there is no way to inherit eternal life without Jesus.
Special honour reward
Jesus replied saying to Peter to talk of the eternal reward
'Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ' Matthew 19:28
We may not understand that now, we will understand the reward only when we are at the eternity with Jesus.
At the seat of judgment - Jesus tells of special honour for the disciples: you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. The disciples will have a special role in the future judgment, probably in the sense of administration in the millennial Kingdom. We read about this in Revelation 21, there are many 12 mentioned in there.
'It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ' Revelation 21:12-14
“The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” Confirms what Jesus Spoke to the Disciples on the twelve thrones that Jesus explained in Matt 19:28
Where we will be in the twelve thrones is based on the righteous pleasing life we live for Jesus, it will determine our place in Heaven. If we keep Jesus as our cornerstone, the rewards will be greater 'built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ' Ephesians 2:20
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