“Peter answered him, ‘We have left everything
to follow you! What then will there be
for us?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you
the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his
glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And
everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or
children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will
inherit eternal life. But many who are
first will be last, and many who are last will be first.’” (Matthew 19:27-30)
Sometimes it costs to follow Jesus. It cost Jesus’ first followers. Peter was married, but left his wife and home
for long periods of time to be with Jesus.
Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fishermen. They left their boats and nets, their businesses
to follow Jesus. It could not have been
a good economic decision. The same is
true with Matthew. The tax-collector’s
booth was profitable, but Matthew walked away from it for Jesus. Paul is still another example. Advancing quickly beyond those his own age,
Paul was destined for leadership and power and prestige among the people of
Israel. He laid it aside to follow Jesus
and go from a persecutor to one being persecuted.
Is it worth it? That seems to be Peter’s question. Will there be some reward for what we give
up? It’s not a particularly good
motivation for following God. We are to
follow Him not because of what we’ll get out of it, but because it’s right and
because of how much He loves us. Yet,
rewards will come. There will be eternal
rewards, glorious rewards.
Whatever it costs you to follow Jesus will be
worth it in the long run, the eternal run.
A hundred times as much awaits us!
It’s worth it to follow Jesus, no matter what
it costs!
His, by Grace,
Steve
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