photo #9161409

28. Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.Luke 18:28. Jesus had just told the rich young ruler to sell all he had, give it to the poor, and come follow Him. The ruler left sad. Peter was saying, "We actually did that; we gave up everything. Will it be worth it? What does that mean for us?" Jesus told them, "No one who has left house, parents, brothers, wife, children—the most important things in life—because they followed Christ instead of the things most seek in this life, will lose out." Because of their choice to follow Christ and live for God and His kingdom, they have not lost out on anything. Jesus said anyone who does this shall receive much, much more in this life and the life to come. Receiving a new family of spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ, God's presence, peace, purpose, and joy, and provision in ways you cannot imagine. This is not a "get rich" promise or a promise of an easy life. The promise Jesus makes is that nothing you sacrifice for Jesus is wasted. God will repay in deeper, better ways. He also gives eternal life. Amen.