Hebrews 10:34-35 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

Mercenaries risk their lives for gold. Missionaries risk their lives for souls.

What recompense of reward do you expect? How substantial will it be? What will it consist of in heaven? All we know is of this world. Our desires center upon those things we can see, touch, and use.

Matthew 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Three times in Matthew 6 Jesus uses the term “They have their reward.” Each one dealt with being seen of men, to be honored, respected, and looked upon as noble, charitable, and compassionate. A reputation is their reward of men.

Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

There is no substitute for God’s gracious gifts, earned or otherwise. If God Himself is our exceedingly great reward, why should we look forward to a “thing”?

Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

How about a name? Would you accept a name as your substantial reward? Perhaps it is secret sacred name, your true identity, to finally discover who you were created to be.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Yesterday I said God would test you so that you could see how you measure up. Allow me to continue in this vein and draw some conclusions which might help you further.  In the process of testing there are going to be positive results and negative results. Remember here that it is God who is bringing to you the test results and telling you what those results mean.

2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Don’t compare your results against those of other men or women in Christ. Never compare yourself with a non-believer. God will give you encouragement in good results and correction in bad results. So often, all too often, we become fruit inspectors, thinking that our fruit is not ripe, not sweet enough, or not of sufficient quantity.

The fruit of your doing, if it be of God, is because of your relationship to the source of the good fruit and nothing to do with your own effort. We do this all the time, thinking that if we try harder we will get the results we want. “Get the results we want.” Let that sink in for a second. Where is God’s will in that?

Is it right for us to choose what God’s will is in anything thing based on our feelings of inadequacy, insecurity or guilt? It is our part in all this to foster a healthy intimate relationship with our God and let everything flow out from there.