Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
— John 12:26
In the early 1900s, a London newspaper printed an advertisement that read,
“Men wanted for hazardous darkness, and constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.”
Thousands of men from across England responded to this ad to be on a team headed by the famous arctic explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton. Christian author, Warren W. Wiersbe, commented that if Jesus Christ had advertised for workers, His ad might have read,
“Men and women wanted for difficult task of helping to build My church. You will often be misunderstood, even by those working with you. You will face constant attack from an invisible enemy. You may not see the results of your labor, and your full reward will not come till after all your work is completed. It may cost you your home, your ambitions, even your life.”
Many Christians today determine the success of their spiritual lives based upon the answers to questions like, “Is my message being accepted?” “Are people responding?” or, “Am I comfortable?” But the reality is that Jesus never said we’d have acceptance, recognition, or comfort in this life. Yet we must move forward in obedience.
Maybe you’ve lived faithfully for years and have never seen the physical fruit of your labor. But don’t worry, God recognizes your obedience and will reward you greatly. All you have to do is stay faithful!
Prayer Challenge
Pray and ask God to help you stay obedient even when you don’t see visible results of faithful living.
Questions for Thought
What are some times when you stayed faithful and trusted God in obedience even when you didn’t see the visible fruit of your work?
How can you solidify your trust in God’s promise to honor you for your faithful obedience?