Rewards Of Discipleship ~ Day 25

October 26 2006 - Day 25

Mark 10:28-31

Passage: In this passage we find Peter’s response to Jesus’ command to the rich young ruler. Jesus had told the rich young ruler that if he sold all that he had he would receive eternal life. With the help of Matthew’s account, we see that Peter wanted to know what he would receive for leaving all that he had in order to follow Jesus. It is amazing that Jesus responds by saying, “I tell you the truth, there is no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive in this age a hundred times as much — homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, fields, all with persecutions — and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Application: I think this passage can very easily be distorted and used in an incorrect way. This is clearly not a promise of big houses, big families, and big properties, at least not in the normal sense of the words, for those who follow Jesus. Rather, it is a promise of something greater. This passage is fulfilled in the community of the church. The early church, which is described in Acts, is described as sharing all things and giving to each other as each had need. It describes deep, personal relationships between believers. People like Barnabas sold their land in order to provide for peoples needs. I have recently been experiencing this type of bond with my new church. I am so thankful for what God has given to me through the church. True fellowship is priceless. It is important to note Jesus' inclusion of promised persecutions. It is simply a fact that any person who lives a godly life, radically following Jesus, will suffer from persecution, some more severely than others. All of these blessings are wonderful but none compare to the gift of eternal life. Jesus says in John 17 that eternal life is knowing God as he really is, forever. The main event of eternal life is being filled with everlasting joy in worship over the knowledge of God Himself! Oh I can’t wait! But I must.