“Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?” Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” Matthew 19:27-30 (NLT)
Do you ever wonder if the things we are obtaining in this life, material possessions, education, accolades, acknowledgment, position, the dreaded “respect,” matter to God?
Megan West Mullins passed along to me a great word that God gave to her as He woke her at 3:00 am this morning…about me. I had shared dealing with some hurt and flawed feelings (which are scary and oftentimes misleading things) of not being appreciated and my efforts and actions not being remembered. God’s questions through her to me were:
Me – Look what I did for you?
God – “See how I used you.”
God: “They won’t remember. I do!”
God: “What did you do it all for? Them or Me?”
The hard answer is, Lord, I did this in your name but for my recognition and honor. Painful to write.
So, as I enter another day and season, I write meekly and cautiously, Father please continue to use me even though I am so flawed, so needy, so insecure, so seeking the accolades of those equally broken and equally needing, seeking, striving. Through our brokenness Dad, use us to build and advance your Kingdom. Matthew 6:10.
Peter asked, “what will we get.” Jesus answered, ‘100X as much in return.’ I have received 100 x 100 in return for the ways God has and continues to use me, despite my human limitations. I am grateful that Jesus patiently looks at me, rubs his nail-scarred hands and says “Dad, I would do it all again for him.” Today know that God the Father, the Omnipotent Creator of all things would sacrifice His perfect Son for we, His imperfect children. He would die all over again for you, but thankfully His death was necessary only once for our eternity if we trust and follow Him.