Devotional
Worth the Investment
"And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for My sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life."
Matthew 19 29
Matthew 19 29
Under the Old Covenant, the blessings of God were mostly material blessings such as long life, wealth, healthy crops, victory over enemies, many descendants etc. This is how God rewarded those who were faithful to His laws and to His covenant. He also used material things to punish as well, such as plagues, pests, foreign armies etc. But, in the New Covenant, Jesus teaches a new concept – the idea of eternal rewards.
Jesus often points out that for His followers this world will bring hardship, sacrifice, and persecution. But, their reward will be in the next life, rich and eternal. The apostles teach the same thing, that this world will be hard, but the next one will be full of glory and reward. It can be a difficult thing to trust in when you live in a culture of almost instant gratification. In our modern world of instant credit, low commitment, and endless opportunity, it can be very challenging to live for the future. This is where our trust in God comes. When we make God our priority, we are investing into something much greater than anything this world can offer. Jesus assures us that the sacrifice will be worth it.
Brett Wilson
Jesus often points out that for His followers this world will bring hardship, sacrifice, and persecution. But, their reward will be in the next life, rich and eternal. The apostles teach the same thing, that this world will be hard, but the next one will be full of glory and reward. It can be a difficult thing to trust in when you live in a culture of almost instant gratification. In our modern world of instant credit, low commitment, and endless opportunity, it can be very challenging to live for the future. This is where our trust in God comes. When we make God our priority, we are investing into something much greater than anything this world can offer. Jesus assures us that the sacrifice will be worth it.
Brett Wilson