Daily Lesson for October 28, 2020

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Mark chapter 10 verses 28 through 31:

28 Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 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, 30 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. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

One of the most difficult things to come to terms with in following in the way of Jesus' Gospel is the cost.

Intellectually, we know that decisions have consequences and do sometimes come with a price. But it is one thing to know this intellectually, and quite another to truly accept it in our hearts and souls.

But it is true. In a church like mine we have people whose choices have cost them relationships with sons, and daughters, and parents, and friends. Belonging has meant no longer being welcomed in other places amongst other people in the same ways. For some, it literally meant losing their jobs and housing at universities and seminaries. For others, the cost was a smaller youth group with no other kids from their same school.

There is cost. But I treasure what Jesus says. Once we come to terms with the loss, grieve it, and begin to let it go, it opens us to receive again in new ways.

"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."

Then, of course he qualifies it "with persecutions" but then adds finally, "and in the age to come, eternal life."

Luther wrote:

"Let goods and kindred go

This mortal life also"

The pain of losing our lives for the sake of the Gospel is very real and hurtful. But when we look around and see all that is also gained in the way of friendships with others and integrity within ourselves, we know there is no other life we would wish to live -- either with what is, or is to come . . .

NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Tomorrow's Lesson comes from Matthew chapters 20 and 21.