Let me share with you a dream I received from the Lord the other day.
In the dream, I saw a picture of a big ship going through storms. And there was this one person in the ship. The next thing I saw was water from the sea began entering the ship. Water began to seep into the ship through the gaps at the wall of the ship. And then more and more water entering the ship. This person in the dream tried whatever he could to close the gaps at the wall of the ship to prevent water from entering. And he was doing this without others seeing or knowing about it.
Speaking about unsung heroes! Speaking about sacrificing oneself to save others, even without others knowing it, seeing it, or recognizing it! And later on, the sea was calm again. The turbulent storms and high waves passed. And the ship docked at the port. But no one actually remembered him and no one even know he was instrumental in saving the ship. And as everyone went about their own things, no one realized what this person did, and therefore, of course, no one appreciated him or thanked him.
And that's when the Lord spoke these words: "The good that you have done in secret, I will know how to reward you openly. Even though the world may not recognize it or appreciate it, I recognize it and appreciate it. Even though the world may not know it or see it, I know it and see it. For I see inside the heart, and I do not see as man sees."
Maybe some of you, you have done a lot of good things, yet many people in the world do not recognize it, they do not appreciate it, they do not know it, or they do not see it. But the Lord wants you to know that He sees it, and He will know how to reward you openly!
You may be one of those whose good deeds, or whose prayers in the secret, no one knows, and people forget about you. But the Lord your God, your Heavenly Father, will never forget you. He will never forget all your good deeds and all those prayers that you have prayed for others.
Like the little things that you thought are little things, but the Lord your God, your Heavenly Father, values it so much. For example, the prayers that you have prayed to bless others, even when no one is there to listen, or you wake up in the middle of the night to pray for somebody, and that somebody doesn't even know about it. How about the little encouragement you give to people who are down or discouraged? How about the time you have sacrificed to counsel others and to encourage others? How about the energy you have spent to help others? How about your sowing, your giving, yes even financially, to God's kingdom, to God's work, to the ministries that God has put in your heart to give?
Whatever good that you have done for the Lord, even when no one appreciates you, your Heavenly Father appreciates you. He will never forget, even for one second, all these good deeds and all these prayers that you have prayed, or whatever that you have done for the good of the kingdom of God.
Your God is not dead. Your God is still very much alive. He sees everything that has been done in the secret, and He will know how to reward you openly!
And that's exactly what Jesus said in Matthew 6:1-4, "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly."
Let me say this very clearly. The context of this part of the Scripture is never about salvation by works. Your salvation is by grace through your faith. But you see, there is a place for good deeds. There is a place for prayers. And Jesus was saying here, "Do not be like those hypocrites". But whatever you do, the most important thing is your Heavenly Father sees it, even if no one in this world sees it. And your Heavenly Father will know how to reward you openly!
What is this word 'openly' here? It is 'phaneros' in Greek. This word 'phaneros' is from the word 'phos', which means 'light, radiance, luminous'. And one meaning of this word 'phaneros' is 'like the light that shines'. In other words, your Heavenly Father who sees your good deeds in secret will Himself reward you openly, like the light that shines on you!
Imagine if each of us is like a star in the galaxy, and the light of the Lord shines on you! And you, as that star, shines so bright, even in the midst of darkness or hollowness in the galaxy. And that's what it means by 'reward you openly'! You will be like the light that shines! You will be like a star in the galaxy, and your star shines so bright, even in the midst of darkness around you!
So, this word 'openly' doesn't necessarily mean 'publicly, outwardly, or for people to see', but more importantly, it can mean in the spiritual realm, your star shines so bright!
And you know what? Whatever that is in the spiritual realm will be reflected in the physical realm. So I believe this is not just about eternal or heavenly reward, but it has to do also with your earthly reward, i.e. your reward while you are still on earth!
Jesus then said in Matthew 6:5-6, "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward (it means 'they already have their reward'). But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."
Again, the word 'openly' or 'phaneros', i.e. like the light that shines on you!
So, be encouraged therefore, because all your good deeds, all those prayers that you've prayed (even in tears for people), and all those good that you've done for people around you, even though they may not see it, the Lord sees it. The Lord sees your heart. The Lord doesn't see as man sees. But the Lord sees right inside your heart.
You may be saying, "But I've been doing good. I've been doing all that I could. I've been praying. But why is it that I don't see my reward?"
Beloved, your reward will surely come! In God's perfect timing, and even in ways that you cannot imagine. Just do not limit God. Because when God rewards, God rewards!
God knows how to reward you even in ways you never thought possible. For example, maybe you have put all your energy and time on this person. But this person never appreciates you. And this person later on walks out on you. So, it doesn't necessarily mean when you do good to Mr A, and Mr A will surely be the one who will return good to you. Instead, God can raise up a Mr B to show you kindness or to be a blessing to you. You see, what I'm trying to say here is God is in control. Whatever good that you sow, God will see to it that you're going to reap. Just do not limit God on how you're going to reap it, or in what way you're going to reap it. It may be in a way that will totally surprise you. And that's why your God, your Heavenly Father, is a God of all wonders. Amen!
Psalm 126:5-6 says, 'Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.' Let this be so for you, on earth as it is in heaven!
In Galatians 6:9-10, Apostle Paul wrote, 'And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all especially to those who are of the household of faith (i.e. your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ).'
So, let us not grow tired or weary in doing good, in being a blessing to others, in praying for others, in encouraging those who are down, to minister to others, or to serve others. Because in due time, and in due season, you shall surely reap!
In Colossians 3:23-24, Apostle Paul wrote, 'And whatever you do, do it heartily (in other words, 'with all your heart', 'with an abounding heart', 'with a cheerful heart, not a grudging heart'), as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.'
In a world that is full of selfish or inward-looking people, let the light of God so shine on you! You are so full of His light and His glory, so much so that you cannot contain it, and it shines out on others! Yes, in every way that God can use you, in using whatever spiritual gift or talent that He has given to you to be a blessing to others, and that's how your 'star' is going to shine ever and ever brighter!
And that's what Apostle Paul meant, 'knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.' It means all the heavenly inheritance bestowed upon you, and all the goodness of God bestowed upon you and overflowing upon you!
So, wherever the Lord puts you in the Body of Christ (we are all parts of one whole Body of Christ), and whatever the Lord wants to do through your life, keep shining! And always remember as you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things (whatever in the world that you ever need) shall be added to you. And you know that's in Matthew 6:33!
Just like the dream that I've shared with you just now, be encouraged therefore! You may be like that person in the ship. Nobody knew what he did. Nobody saw what he did. Nobody recognized what he did. Yet he was instrumental in saving the ship in a time of storm. But the Lord your God knows it, sees it, and recognizes it. And the Lord your God will know how to reward you openly!
Let's pray: "O Lord God, look at Your beloved's heart right now. The good that Your beloved has done even in the secret, You will know how to reward Your beloved openly. Even though the world may not recognize it or appreciate it, You recognize it and appreciate it. Even though the world may not see it or know it, You see it and know it! There's nothing that's hidden from You. Indeed You are the Lord who will know how to reward each of us openly - in heaven and on earth. In the name of Jesus. Amen."
So, beloved of God, let us not lose heart while doing good. Keep being a blessing to others. Keep praying for others. Keep encouraging those who need encouragement. Whatever the Lord has put in your heart to be a blessing to others, do it. And His light will continue to shine through you, shining and radiating to others through you!
Whichever part of the Body of Christ that you are in, whatever spiritual gift or spiritual calling that you may have, or whether you are in the marketplace, in your neighborhood, or wherever you are, you can be the light that shines on others! Keep looking out for ways to be a blessing to others and to love others. And I tell you what, you will be like the star that shines so bright - both in the spiritual realm and physical realm. Hallelujah!
