God’s Hope for Your Heart from Mark 10
GOD LOVES TO PROVIDE THROUGH HIS PEOPLE
Jesus said, ‘Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.’ (Mark 10:29-30)
Walking with Jesus always has a price, and sometimes it’s more costly than others. We follow a crucified Savior who was homeless and poor. Yet, notice how Jesus speaks of the reward He has prepared for those who sacrifice for Him. He says they will be given “a hundredfold now in this time…”
Does this mean that every believer who loses their home for the Gospel gets a hundred parcels of real estate down the street? Of course not; there simply isn’t enough land on the planet for that. Does it mean that every biological family member who rejects a believer is replaced with one hundred more? All the adoption agencies in all the world couldn’t keep up with that! So, what does Jesus mean?
He’s talking about the Church.
It is the plan and purpose of God that His Church should be a people who help one another generously, sharing affection and commitment, support and strength, and when needed, even finances and a place to stay. In fact, all throughout history we see examples of Christians who understood that God called them to be a family to one another, and as they opened their hearts and homes they became the fulfillment of His promise.
In many ways, this is completely counter-cultural to the western mindset. Our spirit of rugged individualism calls us to take pride in doing things on our own, on needing no one, on making things happen for ourselves, and when we do, on keeping as much for our selves and our own families as we can.
But that is not the Spirit of Christ.
May you be willing to second-guess the gospel of consumer culture and be obedient to God by being generous with others. May you be willing to sacrifice your preferences and pride on behalf of brothers and sisters in Christ. As you do, you won’t just be obeying Jesus. You’ll be laying a foundation for others to do the same for you, too, because of this hope-filled truth: God loves to provide through His people.
-Pastor Phillip
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