April 17, 2023 - Mark 10:29-30

“Listen to my words,” Jesus said. “Anyone who leaves his home behind and chooses me over children, parents, family, and possessions, all for the sake of the gospel, it will come back to him a hundred times as much in this lifetime—homes, family, mothers, brothers, sisters, children, possessions—along with persecutions. And in the age to come, he will inherit eternal life.” Mark 10:29-30 TPT

Jesus, you have called us to follow you, but that isn’t always an easy decision. It also isn’t a one-time decision. We make that decision repeatedly each day. Will we lay aside our selfishness to follow in your ways? Will we lay aside our own dreams and desires to follow you? Will we follow when the cost is really high? If we truly understood your love for us, the answer would always be, “Yes!” You will supply all our needs. You long to see us truly fulfilled. You know what is best for us. Even when we don’t understand and all we can see is the loss, we can trust you to carry us through to better days. And you promise better days are coming. There will be a day when we will inherit an eternity with you. It may cost us to follow you, but we will gain everything that matters.

Lord, help us remember that the trials of this life are temporary. Help us keep our eyes on the eternal goal and not get lost in the temporary things around us now. Help us be willing to lay down whatever you ask of us. Help us walk in total obedience to anything you ask. Everything we have comes from you. Help us not to fall for the lie that we have produced things by our own hands alone and that they belong to us. You can take them away in an instant. They belong to you, and we want to steward them for you with open hands, ready to lay them down the moment you ask for them. Help our answer to you always be an immediate, “Yes!” For you are worthy of anything we lay down or sacrifice.

In Jesus name, amen.