Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. Revelation 22:12
“If the day shall find us, whether it be the day of reward or of persecution, furnished, if swift, if running in this contest of charity, the Lord will never fail of giving a reward for our merits: in peace He will give to us who conquer, a white crown for our labors; in persecution, He will accompany it with a purple one for our passion.”
Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) in his Treatise 8, On Works and Alms, 26.
This statement concludes this treatise. I will move my attention to other famous Lenten writings.
But let’s consider Cyprian’s last words here. With them, I want to encourage you to live in anticipation of a white or purple crown for either attaining reward or enduring persecution.
All who give their lives to charitable works can anticipate one or the other, or maybe even both. We can count on rewards but we may also experience persecution along the way.
We must not give up when it happens. Instead, we can take heart in knowing that Christ warned us and assures us of reward linked to what we do in this life.
I am thankful to inspire old friends and meet new ones over the next three weeks in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and Adelaide. And at our own expense, I am glad Jenni will join me for service in three of the five cities.
Why do this? Our Aussie mates care deeply about God and about honoring Him in every aspect of their lives. We hope to inspire them to give themselves to God afresh and anticipate white and/or purple crowns.
Praying the same for you.