Let Us Pray...

Sunday, September 13, 2009

What about us?

Peter said to Jesus, "We left everything we had and followed

you. So what will we have?" Jesus said to the followers, "I

tell you the truth. When the new world is made, the Son of

Man will sit on his great throne. And all of you that

followed me will also sit on thrones. You will sit on twelve

thrones and you will judge the twelve family groups of

Israel. And every person that has left houses, brothers,

sisters, father, mother, children, or farms to follow me will

get much more than he left. And that person will have life

forever. Many people that have the highest place in life now

will have the lowest place in the future. And many people

that have the lowest place now will have the highest place in

the future.

-- Matthew 19:27-30 (ERV)

KEY THOUGHT:

At first glance, Peter's statement and question seem very

self-promoting. The question, however, is more his looking for

re-assurance that they have indeed tried to follow him. They had, in

fact, left everything to follow him. While they had not always

understood or chosen the proper course, they had sacrificed everything

to follow him. We must not discount the great sacrifices these 12 had

made. When Jesus is crucified, it had to make their devastation all the

more severe. Jesus does not rebuke Peter. Instead, like he had done for

so many others who were desperate for his care and cure, he affirms

him. In the same way, if we truly surrender our lives in obedience to

Jesus Christ as Lord, he promises us very much the same kind of

blessing. Just as we cannot out sacrifice God, neither can we begin to

imagine his ultimate blessings for us who loved him and sought to

faithfully follow him!

TODAY'S PRAYER:

Almighty and gracious God, I trust in your promises. Please give me the

courage to live with radical faith in Jesus as Lord knowing that any

hardship here will not go unnoticed and unrewarded by your grace. In

Jesus' name I pray. Amen.