A Cup of Cold Water 
The Rewards of Refreshing 
Matthew 10:42 
It is easy to love the great things and the big things. Our culture celebrates power, money, influence, and beauty. while at the same time ignoring the small and seemingly insignificant things. The good mother, the faithful employee, the day laborer, the plain looking, the simply dressed, the common person...these are just faces in the crowd, extras on the movie set, non-essentials in the quest for perfection. 
God does not judge His people as our society judges people!  This passage teaches us a great truth. Jesus is speaking to his disciples just before sending them out on a missionary journey. We too, are on a mission journey. We feel insignificant. We feel that our small accomplishments mean very little in the great plan of God. "(the Wednesday night crowd at church!)  You may say to yoursellf, "It doesn't really matter if I live close to God, because it wont make any difference." " I'm just a nobody." "God isn't using me." We do not see ourselves making a difference in the world. 
This passage tells us that our labors for God, however small, are noted by God and will ultimately be rewarded by Him. The verses preceding tell us "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward." The disciples were sent in the name of Christ. They were doing His bidding. Those who received them would partake in their reward. 
This was probably a radical concept to those who heard it! It would seem to be very easy to receive a reward under this system...and truly, Christ was making it easy for us! And then he goes on to say, And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. Just a cup of cold water is enough to activate the rewards of God! (YOUR ODDS PLAYING THE LOTTERY/Serving the Lord!)
Can you see the repercussions of this truth? Every kind word spoken for Christ will be rewarded. Every handshake, hug or embrace will be remembered. Every meal cooked for the sick God has recorded. Every visitation, every Sunday school class taught, every fellowship meal prepared, every offering....There is a payday-someday!  God will reward kind words and good deeds, no matter how insignificant they may seem. 
I. THE EFFORT"...a cup...of water" 
1. Good Deeds Even at the Slightest Opportunity. The cup of water represents only a small portion of the need. But it is a timely need. Humans need food, water, shelter, etc. to live. We may not be able to meet all the needs of a person, but that should not stop us from doing what we can. Just an insignificant gesture could be the vehicle God uses to show His glory to somebody! 
2. Good Deeds Are the Sweetest Obedience. Has God ever laid it on your heart to speak a word or meet a need for a hurting soul? Just a hug at the funeral home when someone's family member passes on, or an encouraging word to a wounded brother.
3. Good Deeds Bring the Strangest Overwhelming. Somehow, God uses small and insignificant deeds and multiplies them and makes them great.  General William Booth of the Salvation Army telegraphed his convention speech from his sickbed. His speech consisted of one word, "Others." Just one little word. But God used it to say a lot. In the grand scheme of things, it meant nothing. It did not change the political climate of the day. But that one little insignificant incident recorded in history melted the hearts of many that heard it that evening. God uses little things and sometimes magnifies them into great things. 
II. THE EXTRA "....cold..."
It is noteworthy that Jesus made mention that the water was cold. Water at any temperature will satisfy thirst. But the gift of cold water is a gift with a little extra attached. It is the "extra" that touches the heart.  When this was written, people didn't have refrigerators or freon gas!!! 
1. Little Kindnesses Bring Grace to the Needy. People have needs. We may be able to meet them. It is an opportunity to let others see the grace of God working. 1 John 3:17 says, But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? The man who fell among thieves in Luke 10 had need of help. All passed him by until the good Samaritan stopped and "took care of him." James says, If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? (James 2:15-16) 
2. Little Kindnesses Bring Growth to the Christian. Our labor for God, however small, has an effect upon us as well as the ones we help. Paul spoke of the house of Stephanas as having addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.. and he then admonishes the Corinthians ...that ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth. (1 Cor. 16:15) It is a wonderful feeling to know that God is using you to meet the needs of others.
3. Little Kindnesses Bring Glory to God. There's nobody else on earth like God's people!  We do not do service to bring glory to ourselves, but to God. God's kind of service is unnatural and peculiar!. This is the kind of service He was speaking of when He said, And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. (Mat. 5:41) 
III. THE EARNESTNESS "...in the name of a disciple..."
What is the motivation of our service? We see in the text that the cup of cold water is given only in the name of a disciple... In a parallel passage (Mark 9:41) Jesus says, In my name, because you belong to Christ. Our motivation is most certainly to bring glory to God and fulfill His plan for our lives. 
1. Our Care is Because of Christ. Those we help must know that our assistance only comes because God has changed our hearts and sent us to them. It is He that cares for their souls, and we are mere extensions of that care. 1 Peter 5:7 says ...he careth for you.  Our care for others is "Christ in us." 
2. Our Comforting is in the Place of Christ. Three different times in the Gospels did Jesus say "Be of good comfort", and comfort can still be found in His obedient people. 2 Corinthians 1:4 tells us the He..comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble.." The same comfort that blesses us is passed on to others. 
3. Our Credit is Forwarded to Christ. Jesus warns us about doing good works to be seen of men in Matthew 6:2. "They have their reward," Jesus says. We are extensions of Him and His ministry, He is to receive the glory from all He leads us to do. The obedient servant of Christ is not looking to receive the praise of men, but rather the praise of God...in other words, "to hear HIM say 
WELL DONE!!!" 
IV. THE ENCOURAGEMENT"...his reward."
You've heard it said that, "You can't out-give God!" The child of God who is involved in these "small services" can rest assured that God has recorded every deed done in His name! 
1. His Purpose in Rewarding. The laborer is worthy of his hire.  Hebrews 11:6 tells us that God "...is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him..." His reward is based on faith and our work is accomplished by that same faith. There is no shortage of fairness when it comes to His rewards. 
2. His Power in Rewarding. There is no force that can stop Christ's rewarding of His people. In this life, we may work hard and never be acknowledged for our labor. But every deed, no matter how trivial, will be rewarded by our Divine Record Keeper. There will be no shortage of crowns in Heaven. 
3. His Perfection in Rewarding. I Corinthians 3 reveals God's plan for rewarding His people. If we study verses 5-15, we begin to see our God's divine perfection in His dealings. There will be no bookkeeping errors in heaven! ...If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward... Notice the word "lose" at the end of the verse. It means to abolish, destroy, to render useless. Our rewards are safe in the vault of Heaven. 
V. THE ETERNITY "...in no wise..."
In the phrase, "in no wise" ,we can see the eternal sovereignty of God. Rewards won in this life are eternal. They will not rot or rust away. They do not have a time limit, like a borrowed library book, which must be returned on a certain day. 
1. It Will Be Permanent. Our rewards are permanent because they are build on the foundation of Jesus Christ. (I Cor. 3:11)  Since the bible tells us that eternal rewards are permanent, should we  be busy about the Lord's business? 
2. It Will Be Precious. There are many that say, "Just as long as I make it to Heaven, I don't care about the rewards!".  Those who say it does not matter about rewards will feel entirely different on Awards Day. No one likes to lose, especially when they know they did not do their best. 
3. Will It Be Plentious? (for you personally) (I Cor. 3:13) Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. Its not easy to have your work scrutinized by others, to be examined and tested...but there will be no excuse for us to stand before our God empty-handed because of our laziness and slothfulness...when all the while, God would reward even the smallest deed, even the cup of cold water given in His name. 
Let us resolve to labor for our Lord, being used us in His service as he gives us opportunity. Let us give that cup of cold water when the occasion arises.	
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