Keep Your Eye on the Prize

“Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right.
      The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

“Blessed are you when people make fun of you and hurt you because of me. You are also blessed when they tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. Be joyful and glad. Your reward in heaven is great. In the same way, people hurt the prophets who lived long ago.”

Matthew 5:10-12 (NIRV)

Prop: trophy

Have a volunteer pretend to be in a marathon and run in place while you speak. 

Read the scripture above. 

There are many different ways people may mistreat you when you choose to follow the Lord.  Remember Daniel and how he was thrown into a den of lions because he refused to stop praying to and worshiping God.  In the scriptures I just read, Jesus taught us that as his followers we may be made fun of, treated badly, or even hurt.  Not everyone loves the Lord like we do and so they may want to hurt us because we love and serve God.  But there is a wonderful promise that comes with Jesus’ warning: Jesus said you would be blessed if you are treated badly for Him.  Hard times may come (and probably will!), but if you hang in there with the Lord, you will receive a great reward in heaven. 

I’m sure most of you have watched a race.  Your life in God is like a race: it can get very long and hard at times.  The runners get tired, hot and thirsty and there are moments when they want to quit.  When you face hard times in your “race” for the Lord, there are moments when you may want to quit.  Maybe someone makes fun of you for reading the Bible or going to church.  Or maybe some of your friends don’t understand why you don’t watch certain shows on TV or listen to music that doesn’t glorify God.  Many of you probably have family members who don’t love God like you do, and they might give you a hard time for being a Christian.  In those times, it can get hard to keep going.  Maybe you’ve been tempted to quit and just be like everyone else.  You may feel like a runner who’s in a long, hard race.

What keeps a runner going when it’s hard?  Many times, it’s the prize at the end.  (Display trophy).  This runner isn’t just breaking in his new tennis shoes.  He wants to win the prize.  And when the going gets tough and his legs feel like noodles, he’s going to keep going because he knows the prize is ahead. 

Jesus promised that there is a prize for you in heaven if you keep going in the hard times.  If you keep living for Him—even when no one else does—He will reward you greatly.  When everyone else makes fun of you for doing what is right, think about the day you meet Jesus and he looks you in the eye and says, “Good job.”  When you are called bad names because you are a Christian, think about all the incredible, wonderful things in heaven just waiting for you.  Keep going, knowing that God has great things for you. 

And remember, you will be blessed if you live for God, even in the hard times.