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Leaving home and family behind to tell others about Jesus (Mark 10:29–30) Being insulted and persecuted because of Jesus (Matthew 5:11–12) Selling possessions and giving to those in need (Luke 12:33–34) Loving your enemies (Luke 6:35) Caring for the poor and the sick (Luke 14:13–14)
Jesus will one day return. He will “give to each person according to what they have done” (Revelation 22:12; also 2 John 8). We will stand before God as He judges every human who has ever lived. If our names are in the Book of Life, we are saved for eternity. This is our greatest reward. We will also “give an account of ourselves to God” (Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10) and be rewarded accordingly, whatever form it may take (1 Corinthians 3:12–15). May we long to love and honor God all the days of our life, to serve Him by serving others. Then, we can say as Paul did near the end of his life, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7–8). As we look toward heaven—and more specifically, God in heaven—let’s strive to finish this race well.
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