Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  2024  Day 265

September 20;      Luke 18:29;       62/260(III);      ‘Lose to Gain’

Luke 18:29 So He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,

As always, Peter was commenting to Jesus, how the disciples had left everything to follow the Lord.  Jesus assures Peter that because they left their possessions and family for the kingdom of God, they will receive much more if this lifetime and eternal life in the age to come (v30).  Your priorities are the key to what Jesus is saying here.  You need the necessities of life.  What is so amazing is that as you get to know the Lord by the Word, prayer and worship, He, not things, becomes the focal point of your life.  You leave your family in the sense that you have made the decision that you will follow and serve Jesus all of your life, regardless of what your family does.  This may sound callous, but often it is the impetus that the rest of your family needs to begin to follow Jesus themselves.  The Christ likeness of the family member who follows the Lord, regardless of what the rest of the family says or does, will impact that family greatly.  The changes that only Jesus can make in a person, will profoundly affect the rest of the family and usually, they will follow that sincere believer into the kingdom of God.  My needs will always be met by my Lord.  The craving for things that the world lies to you and tells you that you must have, lose all of their glitz when Jesus comes to live on the throne of your heart.  The honor of doing the Lord’s work with His Word and power flowing through you far exceeds anything temporary the world offers.  The change in you will draw your family into what really matters – Jesus.