When I Respond in Love, Great Is My Reward!

“Since we are his children . . . if we share Christ's suffering, we will also share his glory.” Romans 8:17 (GNT)

There are people in my life who drive me crazy. The only way I’m going to be able to face them and return good for evil is to remember my eternal reward.

As part of His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made this promise that I hold onto: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:11-12 NIV).        

When I respond to my enemies like Jesus would, God says I’m right up there with Moses, Abraham, Elijah, and all the great prophets of the Bible. I’m in God's Hall of Fame. I’m in good company.

Maybe I face opposition because of my faith in Jesus Christ. The Living Bible paraphrase reminds me, “These troubles and sufferings of mine are, after all, quite small and won't last very long. Yet this short time of distress will result in God's richest blessing upon me forever and ever!” (2 Corinthians 4:17). God has promised to give me His richest eternal blessings because of the trials and opposition I experience. My pain is temporary, but my payoff will last forever.

“Since I am His child . . . if I share Christ's suffering, I will also share His glory” (Romans 8:17 GNT).

Christ has already experienced everything I suffer on this earth. He suffered abuse, harassment, opposition, criticism, and plots against Him. Because I am God’s child, then, just like I share in Jesus’ suffering, I will also share in His reward in heaven forever.        

I realize what this means: Because I encounter harassment and bullying with humility and generosity and love, I’m going to share in God's glory for eternity.

What an amazing promise and gift for me!

In summary:

The central theme here is the transformative power of an eternal perspective when facing interpersonal conflict and persecution. By anchoring my identity as a child of God, I can transition from seeing "difficult people" as mere nuisances to seeing them as opportunities to align with the character of Christ. Scripture promises that the temporary discomfort of choosing humility, love, and generosity over retaliation is not only observed by God but serves as a prerequisite for sharing in His eternal glory. This shift moves me from a defensive posture to a proactive, "Hall of Fame" mindset where my character is refined through the very opposition that seeks to diminish it.

Bottom Line:

My temporary endurance of unfair treatment is a direct investment in an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs the cost of my current restraint.

Next Step:

Practice "Identity-Based De-escalation" this week: Before engaging with a person who "drives you crazy," pause and silently affirm, “I am a co-heir with Christ; my response is my witness.” By pre-deciding that my reaction is tied to my eternal inheritance rather than their temporary behavior, I maintain disciplined control and ensure my actions align with my future glory rather than my immediate frustration.