Though I thought I had toiled in vain,
and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength,
yet my reward is with the LORD,
my recompense is with my God
Isaiah 49:4
If you are a parent or if you are responsible for someone else's well being, you have most likely felt like you work and work and don't get the recognition you deserve at one time or another, and maybe more often times than not, you feel that way. As my children grow older and come to visit or hang out and eat everything in my fridge, I have to remind them to clean up, start the dishwasher, and wipe the counters down. If I don't include them in the daily chores, then I work and work and shop and cook and I don't feel very appreciated. It is when they join me with all of this that they respect how much effort it takes.
Here's the catch. I know that when Christ remains in me, I am free. I am free to take care of the children, which implles I could also choose not to. Because I offer my work up to Christ then no matter if the children have recognized all that I do for them or not, I know that I am always free and always know that I am loved. My reward lies with Christ and my recompense with God.
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