Daily Devotionals

THOUGHTS FROM MATTHEW

June 22

Text: Matthew 19:27-30

Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?" And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, shall receive many times as much, and shall inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last; and the last, first. (NASB)

We are so fearful of wasted investments! Most have made them. We sacrifice money or effort and receive nothing in return. We thought we would have a good return on our investment, but we did not. We acted in faith, but nothing happened.

Is sacrificial effort for Jesus another wasted investment? Will we endure just another disappointment? Is this not the silent, unspoken question many Christians fear asking? It is not a new question!

The disciples thought, “This I know!” but they did not. Everything was extremely complex. Jesus declarations sometimes were so confusing! Doing God’s will was not as simple as they thought.

They had to ask. Peter, as usual, was their unafraid spokesperson who put thoughts into words. “What is in this for us? We left everything to follow you!” That was a risky question given recent events.

Though Jesus’ response means little to us, it was significant to them. Do you aspire to a throne and then the responsibility of evaluating others? Wonder what they expected ruling to involve? Many of us seek to escape responsibility, not to acquire responsibility.

People of faith belong to a community of faith who care for each other (see Acts 4:32-37). The result is that all who serve have little but have everything. Why? They belong to a caring God and a caring community. The more we are a caring community the more we are what God intended.

Suggestion for reflection: Do you have enough faith in Jesus to doubt? (Read John 20:26-29.)