Focus on Your Future to Get Through Temporary Troubles

Current Teaching Series Unshakable: Thriving No Matter What Hits You

Focus on Your Future to Get Through Temporary Troubles By Rick Warren — Oct 9, 2017 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12 NIV). When we follow Jesus, we will face trouble. The Bible says that’s guaranteed. You’ll be harassed, persecuted, rejected, and ridiculed because of your faith. But that’s not the end of the story. The Bible also says that Jesus endured the torture of the cross “for the joy set before him.” You, too, must focus on your future reward if you want to get through your temporary troubles. Imagine the scene at the end of history. Everyone who has ever lived will one day kneel before Jesus Christ. Everyone will say, “Jesus is Lord.” Some will praise him because they’ve done so all their lives. Others will praise him in judgment to themselves because they’ve denied him all their lives. Every professor who ridiculed you because of your faith will one day praise Jesus. Every friend who tried to convince you to abandon your faith will praise him. Every entertainer who made a mockery of his name will praise him. Every politician who opposed his ways will one day praise him. The Bible describes it like this: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11 NIV). Everyone will one day bow before Jesus. At that time God will also reward you for staying true to him despite the harassment and criticism you face for your faith today. Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12 NIV). Whenever you face persecution, you’re in the same category as Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Moses. Just like those great prophets of old, you’ll one day experience an eternity with God, full of unimaginable joy. The harassment, persecution, rejection, and ridicule you face now for Jesus’ sake won’t compare to the reward of eternity with God. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over When has harassment, persecution, rejection, or ridicule drawn you closer to Jesus? What temporary troubles are you facing right now that are distracting you — or could distract you — from your future reward? Why can keeping future rewards in mind help you deal with difficulties in this world?

Our Gift: Unshakable Study Kit Do you want to thrive in every circumstance? In the Bible, Daniel and his friends rose to top positions of leadership because they were unshakeable in their faith even though they were surrounded by a corrupt culture. Today, the world’s value system increasingly drifts further from God. To thrive, no matter what, you need to dive into scripture and learn how to be unshakeable in your faith. In the 9-part DVD study kit, Unshakable: Thriving No Matter What Hits You, Pastor Rick helps you walk through scripture and learn how to… • Stand strong when your world is shaken • Stay firm when your pressured to conformn • Be bold when your beliefs are belittled • Be confident when you’re asked to do the impossible • Stay cool when the heat is on LEARN MORE

Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes nine full-length teaching CD's from Pastor Rick's series Unshakable: Thriving No Matter What Hits You. LEARN MORE

Series Summary Session 1: When Your World is Shaken Up Session 2: When You're Pressured to Conform Session 3: When Your Beliefs are Belittled Session 4: When You're Asked to Do the Impossible Session 5: When the Heat is On Session 6: When God Tests You with Success Session 7: Are You Learning from Those Who Came Before You? Session 8: Will You Stand Strong for God Publicly? Session 9: The Kind of Prayer God Answers PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST

Pastor Rick Warren

Enjoy today's Devotional? Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio. Did someone forward this devotional to you? Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional. This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at pastorrick.com. Rick Warren has helped people live with hope and on purpose for more than 40 years. He’s the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of several books, including The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life, which has been translated into 137 languages and sold more than 50 million copies in all formats. He created the PEACE Plan (plant churches of reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, educate the next generation), which is used by churches in 196 countries. His radio teaching and daily devotional, Daily Hope, is offered around the world. This devotional © 2017 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences. Update your preferences  |  Unsubscribe