JESUS FIRST

 

As we meditate the word of the Lord today in Matthew 19, verse 29 answered our questions on how to really follow Jesus Christ.

"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life" (Matthew 19:29).

It maybe a bit confusing, for Jesus Christ taught us to love our family. Does this mean that we neglect our family for His namesake?

It means that we need to put Jesus first in everything we do. It doesn’t mean that we neglect them. However, if our family and work get in the way of following Jesus, we must be prepared to leave everything behind. Anything in our lives, that hinders us to do the will of the Father and following Jesus must be abandoned. Self-sacrifice, dying in our flesh and giving up ourselves (habits, comfort and wealth) is what Jesus is asking from us.

He is saying that the only way to achieve the kingdom is by focusing on the Christ—our true spiritual identity—over any and all human distractions.

But for doing all these He promised that in return we will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. It is the ULTIMATE PROMISE OF THE ULTIMATE ETERNAL REWARD.

Some of the ways we get our hundredfold:

· Joy in the Holy Spirit, peace of conscience, the sense of God’s love.

· Contentment. They shall have a contented frame of mind.

· God will stir up the hearts of others to supply their wants, and that supply shall be sweeter to them than their abundance was.

Let us reflect:

-       Is Jesus our priority in our lives?

-       Can we give up our comfort of life for Jesus?

-       Is our schedule and appointments revolve around our schedule for Jesus? (do we turn down other appointments that would conflict to our Sunday service and equipping)

-       Can we sacrifice our phone calls to our loved ones for the work of the Church?

-       Can we give up our sleeping time and rest time because you are needed in the Church or a brother/sister needs you?

-       Can we sacrifice our pride and submit to your elders or authorities for Jesus namesake?

-       Can we forget all our needs/self and prioritize Jesus?

 

 God will be a debtor to no man. It is impossible for us to give more to God than He gives back to us. Amen.