Bible Reading: Matthew 19
Matthew 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
It costs to follow Jesus. Make no mistake, salvation is free, but discipleship requires complete surerender to Jesus. The disciples had just heard the Lord tell the rich young ruler to sell his goods and give to the poor and come and follow him. It’s hard, Jesus had told them for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. It just can’t be done by man, but God can perform the miracle of salvation in any man.
Matthew 19:27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
For those who have forsaken all to follow Jesus, what about them? Jesus told Peter of what was to come.
Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
During the Millennium, the apostles would sit upon twelve thrones and serve as judges over the twelve tribes! Now think of this small band of Galilean fisherman, tax collectors and zealots becoming judges! That was what Jesus was preparing them for. But not yet…
Not only that, but anyone who forsakes possessions or relations for the sake of Jesus can know that they will receive a hundredfold. They will be living out of the eternal life Jesus has given to them. Then Jesus said this:
Matthew 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
Some who have all these things now will have little or nothing later. Some who forsake all now to follow Jesus will receive these things later. The future glory of the followers of Jesus is something that we cannot fully comprehend. So don’t store up treasure on earth. Store up treasure in heaven. Don’t allow things to get in the way of the mission of Jesus now. Live for Christ and trust him to provide all that you need. Wait patiently for the Lord. In his time, the reward will be incredible!
In Christ,
Rody
