Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel” Mark 10:29 NABRE
Peter wonders about his and the other disciples future after giving up everything to follow Jesus. Jesus assures Peter everyone who has made sacrifices for the kingdom of God will receive one hundred fold more now in this present age. Attaining the kingdom of God is likely the most profound blessing we could receive in this present age, God is an abundant giver. Jesus is very specific about naming what is given up. Jesus points to giving up house and land, something I am sure we would find impossible in our current cultural environment. Imagine turning over your house to some person in great need, particularly while maintaining the payments so the person doesn’t lose the house. Jesus recognizes giving of perhaps our most difficult sacrifices, giving up, our children, our parents and our siblings. Unlike me Jesus doesn’t generalize leaving us some negotiating room, Jesus names them, male and female as He is saying we give them up. When called by Jesus initially we tend to be on our own, our family looks at us differently, those closest to us may feel judged, they think as a follower we might find ourselves better than them. Jesus isn’t telling us to give these things and people up, but He recognizes we will and in so doing we are richly rewarded.
Today we see many people who call themselves Christian but haven’t given up anything Jesus mentions. We may have an approach to giving where we put up boundaries so we have enough to survive. We might surmise any boundary we put on giving, God may apply the same type of boundary when giving to us.
Have you giving up the most important things to be with God? Do you have a house?
We may have an approach to giving where we put up boundaries so we have enough to survive. We might surmise any boundary we put on giving, God may apply the same type of boundary when giving to us. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #give #reward #Mark #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #gospels #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways