It Makes A Good Point

Tonight in small group (we are studying the Beatitudes) we were discussing Biblical characters whose lives demonstrated meekness. Two of the examples we thought of were Joseph and John the Baptist. We started to compare and contrast the two and quickly realized that they received two very different “rewards” for their attitudes of meekness. Joseph had his share of difficulties yet ultimately we look at Joseph and think, here is an example of someone who consistently obeyed God despite his circumstances and look at all the good that happened to him. Contrast that to John the Baptist whose purpose in life was to prepare the way for Christ. Although John the Baptist had many disciples he showed meekness by pointing his followers to Christ instead of taking the glory for himself. His reward for obedience was getting beheaded. You don’t often hear people saying, “I want to be like John the Baptist.” And yet John the Baptist was doing exactly what he was supposed to be doing. We may never reap the kind of earthly “rewards” that we feel we deserve. But we know that our reward and our treasure is in heaven.