Friday - It's Worth It

2 Timothy 4:6–8 – For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Galatians 6:9 – And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

In verse 7, the Apostle Paul looks back and says, "I have been faithful." In verse 8, he looks ahead and tells us what's in store.

"There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness." Paul knew the Lord had a reward waiting for him. He was going to be rewarded for his faithfulness.

Following Jesus had cost Paul dearly. But at the end of his life, he wasn't regretting what he had given. He was looking forward to what the Lord would give him. His faithfulness had not been wasted.

And neither is yours.

When you wonder if it's worth it.

Sometimes we need that reminder.

• You keep praying, but nothing seems to change.
• You keep serving, but you wonder if it matters.
• You keep at it day after day and wonder if you can keep up.

I want you to know: the Lord sees your faithfulness, even when you can't see the results.

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." — Galatians 6:9

Not to me only.

Now you might be thinking, "That's great for Paul. He was the Apostle Paul. Of course God rewarded him."

But the reward Paul looked forward to wasn't reserved for him alone. Did you catch the end of the verse? "Not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

That includes believers like you and me. You don't have to be an apostle for your faithfulness to matter. The Lord sees you.

And one day, you're going to see Him.

Keep going.

When Paul wrote this letter, he couldn't fix Timothy's situation. He couldn't stop the persecution. He couldn't make the church easier to pastor. He couldn't take away Timothy's fear. But he could encourage him to keep going.

Maybe you're facing something you can't fix today. You can't see a way through it. You can't make it any easier.

But there is one thing you can do: keep going. You can keep praying. You can keep serving. You can keep doing what God has asked you to do.

So whatever hard thing you're facing, don't quit. Stay faithful. Because one day you're going to stand before the Lord, and on that day you'll be glad you didn't quit.

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." That's the testimony of a man who kept going. And by the grace of God, it can be your testimony too.