Thoughts for the Day

Peter began to say to him, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you.’ Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

We have just seen that a rich young man is unable to give up his wealth to follow Jesus when Peter jumps in to remind Jesus that he and the other disciples have left everything to follow him. There is undoubtedly a hint of selfishness about this remark, but Jesus doesn't berate him, instead he answers him seriously.

As humans we are often like Peter, impetuous, and our motives can be mixed. As a young woman I spent some months asking God if I was going on the right track to want to be a Deaconess and swung between feeling selfish (I had a husband and son, and was pregnant with a second son) thinking I had mistaken God's call, and yet feeling hopeful. I spent hours in prayer, only resolving that it must have been God's wish when the Church Selection Committee said "Yes" and also because of the whole-hearted loving support of my husband, Adrian, who frequently ended up taking over the reins of the family while I went off to another church meeting or conference.

Jesus offers a reward to those who follow him and who show love to another, but he also warns there is a cost for all on this journey. In Peter's case it was to be persecution, in our case we don't know the cost. Many Christians in our world are called to experience harsh reality, and we should never forget them in our prayers. Neither should we stop querying our motives as to whether we are doing something for the right reason. When we put others first and ourselves last, or when we are supported by those who know us well, we are more likely to be doing what God wants..

Lord Jesus,
may we follow You through
good times and bad times,
trusting that You are with us
at all times.
May we put self aside,
and seek to put ourselves last
so that we may carry out Your will.
Amen.