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SCRIPTURE READINGS: GENESIS 45:1-15; ROMAN 11:1-2, 29-32, MATTHEW 15:10-28

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is Great faith rewards. Faith means putting one’s hope and trust in God. Hebrews 11:1 also defines faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Reward is the compenstation for fulfilling an obligation. We shall focus on the following facts even as we reflect on the theme”

1. God rewards those who have great faith with testimonies.
2. God rewards those who repent and have great faith in Him with mercy and salvation.

First, we learn that those who have great faith in God receive testimonies as their reward. In Genesis 45:1-15, we discover that Joseph’s faith in God led him through suffering to greatness. Joseph said to His brothers “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. (Genesis 45:7-8) Joseph had faith in God and God rewarded him with greatness and a testimony of God’s faithfulness. Similarly, we see great faith shown by the Canaanite woman whose daughter was severely oppressed by a demon. “…she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”  Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15:25-28). Truly, great faith rewards. Both Joseph and the Canaanite woman were rewarded with a testimony of God’s power and faithfulness because they trusted God in their challenging moments. The prophet Isaiah, also reassures us that great faith rewards when he said that “…they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31) Beloved in the Lord, you may be going through difficult or challenging moments as a believer, but we are greatly encouraged by the great faith demonstrated by Joseph and the Canaanite woman. They remind us of Jesus’ words, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) Let us not give up but hold onto God in prayer always walking with Jesus in faith, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being”(Acts 17:28)

Secondly, God rewards those who repent and have faith in him with mercy and salvation. Paul encourages us in his letter to the Romans to have faith in Lord even in a disobedient generation and He will save us. “Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.” (Romans 11:30-32. God rewards those who genuinely repent from disobedience and turn to Him in faith. Jesus gives us this assurance in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17). Paul reemphasised the essence of faith in our salvation when he wrote that “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). Dear friend, although we are in a disobedient generation and part of a broken world, repentance and faith in Jesus Christ shall guarantee our salvation. In other words, we are a product of grace through repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us, ” Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “Great faith rewards” In our reflection, we discovered that God rewards those who have great faith in Him with success and testimonies. Again, God rewards those who repent and have faith in him with mercy and salvation. May the Holy Spirit strengthen us to sustain our faith in God and to serve Him even as the Lord continues to reward us immeasurably. Amen.