“Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” Matthew 10:41-42
Over the years, there have been just a few Shepherds who beam with pride that they will receive a ‘double portion’ when they reach Paradise for the work they did as a Pastor here on earth. I shared with them that I will continue to serve my Savior in whatever way His Spirit moves me and it doesn’t matter if I get a single, double or triple reward in Paradise…I just want to be with Jesus when I leave this side of Heaven. A double dip ice cream cone on this side of Paradise is always okay. But when I get to see Jesus on the other side…that is all I will need.
In the above reading from the Gospel of Matthew, we read that while preparing the His disciples for a lifetime of serving others, Jesus promised, and tells us too that ‘improving our service’ begins with little things. It begins with thoughtful things; an understanding embrace of one who is hurting, a brief note to one who is lonely and feeling unappreciated and forgotten, giving a plate of beans and rice to a hungry Haitian child, a cup of cool water for one whose lips are parched from the hot blast of a barren desert in this fallen world when all seems futile and worthless. I believe that Jesus takes special notice of all these efforts.
These types of sacrificial service take on a new meaning when recall the words of Jesus in Matthew 25-31-39; where He is telling about how we unknowingly serve Him. Jesus assures us in Matthew 25:40 of what will take place because of our service; “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” When we believers draw our last breath and that final grain of sand gently drops into the mound of sand at the bottom of your journey’s hourglass…the Judge will offer His reward. The servants receiving them were so unselfish, they had long since forgotten the deeds. Hungry Haitian children fed. Seeing the face of Jesus awaits each of us…and each of those hungry Haitian children.
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay