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.
( Matt. 10:42 )(KJV)

No matter how hard we try, we can't earn salvation or the forgiveness of sins. These are not wages from God, but they are free gifts. God gives gifts to us because He loves us and also promises rewards for faithful service.

There is a big difference between being paid and being rewarded. When someone works hard all day long, they deserve to be paid. If a person's employer does not pay them, they have robbed them. If a person works hard and their boss gives them their pay plus extra time for vacation that was not expected, this is a reward.

After we are saved, God does promise us rewards for true service to Him and others. When we read Matthew 10: 40 to 42, we see a picture of this and rewards to be received.

There are many things we can do to help others including those who share the gospel message. In the days of our Lord, people didn't have water coolers, refrigerators, or ice cubes as we do today. If a person wanted to give another a drink of cool water, the host would have to go to a spring or a mountain stream, or off to a deep well and let down a bucket to draw water. To get one a cup of cold water meant service, and it was a sacrifice, a labor of love. This is why the Lord told those who gave unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water, in the name of a disciple, they would not lose their reward.

Today, there are many ways to be of service to others. Praying for our ministers, missionaries, and those who share God's word will be rewarded. Helping others is the will of the Lord and little is much when God is in it. May we always be aware of the little things which we can do. We will not only be blessed but a blessing to others when we do what we can for the Lord.

Blessings In Christ,

And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
( Acts 21:27-29 )(KJV)