“I Am The Gate”

Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”

“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 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. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Mark 10:28-31

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 10:9-10

God has given us the motivation to live life to the fullest extent. He does not need to command obedience. Jesus has promised that a life of following Him, while costly, is a life of abundance.

We can rejoice in the fact that we serve a generous God, One who does not reward and punish as we deserve. He generously accepts our weakest efforts – even welcoming and rewarding latecomers to His kingdom as generously as old timers. In light of this reality, let us joyfully serve Him today.

Following Jesus is the way to a rich and satisfying life.

Our Daily Bread – August 7, 2017