Good Morning Friends,
“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
No comments:
Post a Comment