Gods favour and blessing is one of the rewards of the righteous. The favour of God in today's popular teaching can mean anything from a parking space which appears to someone, to your airline upgrading you to first class from economy. Bible rewards are very very different.
Gods favour does not mean free parking spaces! it means to be close to God, to gain His favour means He likes to hang out with you more- he manifests His presence more on you and reveals more of his heart to you and strengthens you more than others. It means intimacy. he likes to manifest His presence to those whom He loves. "The secret counsel do God is with those who fear Him" he shares the secret of his heart with us.
Many times this favour does not mean a smooth life, free of trouble, "blessings popping up to make our lives more convenient- but it almost certainly means more trouble-
"blessed are you when they say false things of you accusing you falsely, maligning you on account of me, rejoice with great gladness because great is your reward in heaven, for they treated the prophets of God likewise"
he makes an effort to emphasise reward "in heaven" there is something intangible about this reward- it is stored up for the prophet in heaven, I think this means more of Gods presence is waiting for you in The heavenly realms which you will get to enjoy. As if God is saying " if you can set your mind on heavenly things then you will enjoy more of Me, as you go through such trials"
Heavenly joys and rewards
"Jesus For the joy that was set before Him endured the cross" this joy is the joy of being resurrected by the Father in glory - for performing the ultimate act of self sacrifice and obedience to God.
For obedience into death Jesus gains the fathers ultimate and highest approval, resurrection from the dead into the highest level of heaven and more intimacy, more power, more authority from God and more approval from God than any man who will ever live. Such was the greatness of His obedience and sacrifice which was even to death.
The Bible inspires and encourages us with like encouragement- if we obey unto the denial of our will and self life but obedience to God unto death, to love Him, like Jesus did, we will also be likewise resurrected with Him in like glory. God takes pains to set our sights not on earthly rewards but eternal, heavenly ones.
An internal inward strength
"Even if our outer man decays day by day, our inner man is renewed day by day" it is spiritual, this force, this life, this strength this reward is eternal life expressed in the very core of our spirit man.
Rewards and judgement
Even a cup of cold water will not lose its reward. God takes into account all small deeds of love, and encourages us to look forward to a day they will all be accounted for by Him to receive His generous blessing.
