Mark 10:27-31
New International Version
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” 28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Tuesday - October 19
Peter still thinks that he can impress his teacher. “Hey! Look at everything I’ve done for you!” Then Jesus makes another shocking statement. Not only will followers of Jesus be given new families (the church), but we will be given hardship and persecutions. That sounds like the opposite of a healthy, wealthy and prosperous life! This world does not understand the Gospel. It is shocked by the free gift of God’s grace and mercy. That is why Jesus was put on a cross! Forgiving sins was “illegal”! (See Mark 2:1-11). When we live by faith we look like little children who are small, weak, helpless and even “illegal” because we do not strive like everyone else. The world will try to exploit us or get rid of us. But we cling with childlike faith to Jesus.