For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

--Matthew 16:27

A little girl needed an operation and was terrified of the thought. Her parents promised to give her something she had wanted for a long time as encouragement—her very own kitten. The operation was a success, but as the anesthesia wore off, the little girl mumbled, “This sure is a lousy way to get a cat!”

Believers who go through hardships while serving the Lord will never feel the way that little girl did when they look back on the trials they overcame. 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” It’s true—when you live a lifestyle of holiness, you will be mocked and perhaps even cursed.

However, Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). As a result of our faithfulness to follow Christ at all costs, Christ assured us that when He returns to earth, “he will reward each person according to what he has done” (Matthew 16:27).

The apostle Paul said to “consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2) because “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). You should rejoice in the fact that we “participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13).

When you endure hardships and trials in this life, count it a privilege and blessing to be identified with the Savior. Suffering for Him will bring a sure and eternal reward free of any regrets.

CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to give you joy when you suffer through hardships in the Christian life.

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