God records and rewards 

‘You will be repaid at the resurrection.’ Luke 14:14 NIV 

When Jesus was invited to the home of a prominent religious leader, He offered this unsolicited advice. ‘When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbours; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor...the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous’ (Luke 14:12-14 NIVUK). Notice the words, ‘you will be repaid at the resurrection’. God will repay you for some things after you’re dead. This contradicts what many of us believe: that God rewards us only on earth. No, these words show that when you do a worthy deed for someone who cannot repay you a) you will be repaid, and b) much of your reward will come in the next life. If you fail to understand this, you’ll find yourself saying: ‘I serve God faithfully, so why am I struggling? Doesn’t God notice or care?’ Friend, God notices and God cares! But He doesn’t promise that work for Him now will always result in gain from Him now. Many of the rewards God has for us are so great it’ll take eternity to appreciate and enjoy them! Jesus said, ‘Anyone who gives you a cup of water in My name...will certainly not lose his reward’ (Mark 9:41 NIV). No deed for God will be overlooked or go unrewarded; not even a cup of cold water or a prayer in the middle of the night. 

Prayer Point:

Lord, I know You know everything I have gone through and will go through. You, more than anyone, can touch the pain and despair I sometimes feel in my life. When times are good, Lord, never let me forget that I can be Jesus to someone, bringing Your grace and mercy to bear on any circumstance or situation. Never let me overlook anyone in a situation I can fix – I will be a blessing in Jesus’ name. Amen.