«A great reward awaits you in heaven»(Matthew 5:12, NLT).
SOME YEARS AGO, I read the story of a young man whose university unveiled a plaque with the following inscription: «He played four years in the team of substitute players. He never gave up.» Why did his alma mater give him such an unusual award? Because he was never class president as a college student; because he was a member of the football team but not the main team for four years; because his highest grade as a student was a B; because during World War I, he served in a low-ranking position in a medical unit; and because wherever he was, though he never stood out in anything specific, he was faithful to his duty. And as a result, he was given a wonderful reward.
No doubt all of us long for the highest positions; however, we shouldn’t overlook the importance of those of us who will never reach the summit. Most of us have gone through this world without making a contribution that lands us on the front page of newspapers. We weren’t the best in our class; we didn’t win any awards; we haven’t had the opportunity to preside anything; we are common, ordinary people who haven’t been able to do the things our society considers to be impressive. But does that mean our life, our effort, our persevering work have all been in vain?
I thought of Philip, the apostle. Did he write a letter? Did he perform any miracles? Did he preside the Council of Jerusalem? No. Philip is among those who were never in the main team, the ones who didn’t belong to the group of the most brilliant and famous. So then what did Philip do? Well, «Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ’We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote’ ” (John 1:45). When the Greeks wanted to talk to Jesus, whom did they approach* They went to Philip, who arranged for Jesus to meet with them.
That Philip, who had apparently not done anything meaningful for humankind, silently, without external ostentation, was God’s special instrument to directly bless those around him. Philip didn’t contribute anything big on a global scale, but he contributed a lot to the people who were close to him.
God assures the Philips who go by unnoticed in the sight of men, «I know your works, tribulation, and poverty» (Revelation 2:9). He who sees our smallest deeds done in secret offers this precious promise to us: «Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven» (Matthew 5:12, NLT).
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2023
“I AM WITH YOU”
From: J. VLADIMIR POLANCO
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Angelica Cuate
