PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 19
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29)
There is no doubt that Peter and the other disciples sacrificed a lot.
Yet slowly they discovered that following Jesus was not a self-serving path.
Jesus was not in it for power, position, possessions or popularity.
Jesus was motivated by a selfless, God and neighbour-serving love.
What is the ‘hundred times as much’ that Jesus is offering them?
It is not the quantity but the quality of life; it is “life to the full” (John 10:10).
Jesus comes to restore God’s “very good” creation family and kingdom.
Our limited experience of this full blessing remains under a curse.
Whatever we have we eventually lose because of breakdown or death.
Loved ones die, savings are spent, health declines, relationships break down.
Jesus comes to end this curse, to make life better for all, especially ‘the last’.
Jesus followers join Jesus in living for love, that all may experience it.
We want as many people as possible to experience God’s “life to the full”.
A hundred times better than what we are experiencing now.
Lord Jesus, help me to find greater joy and fullness in serving and blessing others, than serving and blessing myself. Help me to see that this is a hundred times better!