The One Thing That is Needful…

 The Parable of the Sower

(Matt. 13:1–9; Mark 4:1–9)

And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold." When He had said these things He cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

The Purpose of Parables

(Matt. 13:10–17; Mark 4:10–12)

Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable mean?"

And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that

'Seeing they may not see,

And hearing they may not understand.'

The Parable of the Sower Explained

(Matt. 13:18–23; Mark 4:13–20)

"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

I can remember reading about “fruit” as a young Christian and not having any idea what it really was.  Once I figured it out, I looked for it in my own life and became discouraged. As I continued in my faith, however, it began to dawn on me that first of all whatever fruit WAS in my life it wasn’t mine, but His.  Second and more importantly I saw where all my fruit had their root.  The seeds were sown in my heart as morning by morning I spent time at Jesus’ feet and received His word with meekness. From that point I just needed to be patient.  My part was to receive…He did the work. My fruit was borne not in the busyness of ministry but in the quietness of my early mornings which were spent with my Jesus and His word. 

Beloved…Spending time with Jesus helps us to see all in our life in the light of His glory...other things that might seem important and compete for our attention fade as we behold Him. The darkness in our own soul and the wickedness of our heart will be overcome by His marvelous light.  Through no power of our own, we begin to put away sin and strongholds that have held our heart captive. Behold your God....Seek His face....Seek His presence....abide in His word, surrender to His Spirit and allow Him to transform you into His glorious image.  

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.—2 Corinthians 4:6-12

Attaching an old devotional here that helped me this morning. 

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.--Luke 10:38-42

Question:  What does Jesus say is the one thing that is needed?  What does Jesus describe as the good part?  The part which shall not be taken away?

Answer:  Sitting at His feet (abiding) and hearing His word with a heart that desires Him above all because He is what is needed.

The one thing that is needed brings salvation:

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.--James 1:21

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.--Romans 10:17

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:--Romans 5:1

The one thing that is needed brings peace:

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.--Isaiah 26:3

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.--Romans 8:6

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:--Romans 5:1

The one thing that is needed brings a desire for the things above and an indifference to the things of the world:

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.--Colossians 3:1-3

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.--Matthew 5:6

 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.--John 6:27

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.--Psalm 73:25-26

The one thing that is needed bears fruit unto our God:

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.--John 15:4-5

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.--Galatians 5:22-23

The one thing that is needed is made manifest in our devotion and obedience to God:

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.--Deuteronomy 6:5

But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.--Joshua 22:5

And he said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:--1 Kings 8:23

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.--Psalm 1:2

 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.--Psalm 51:6

The one thing that is needed brings us into His Presence and to fulness of joy...it gives us Jesus Himself. 

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.--Psalm 16:11

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.--Ephesians 3:19

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

And ye are complete in him, --Colossians 2:9-10

Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.--Psalm 73:23-24

The desire for the one thing that is needed is produced by the indwelling Holy Spirit in a believers' heart.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.--John 14:16-17

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.--Romans 8:4

Passing Through the Valley of Baca…

Dedicated to Louise…who made her Valley of Baca (tears) a spring.  Thank you for your faithful kindness to me even when your own heart was broken.  I can never read this Psalm and not fill up with love and gratitude toward our God who placed you in my life when I needed you the most. 

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee. Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion.--Psalm 84:6-7

These are some of my most favorite verses in Scripture.

The blessings of being in the presence of our God and worshiping Him during our earthly pilgrimage here are not for the divided or half-hearted. No, the blessings come to those whose heart, mind, soul and strength are completely surrendered to Him...whose life is full of His ways.  This is the man whose heart can be filled with joy and can find refreshment even as he walks through the most difficult times here on this earth. This is the man who can look back over the difficult valleys that he has passed through and can see the beauty the Lord has wrought through them by his surrender. This is the man who finds His all in His God and can comfort others with the comfort He Himself has received. His eyes are on His God and His strength also  is spent there. The path shines ever brighter as he walks. His hope is in His God who will receive Him when his time here is done. He will awake in His likeness and will see His face in righteousness and his joy will be unending.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield;

The LORD will give grace and glory;

No good thing will He withhold

From those who walk uprightly.

O LORD of hosts,

Blessed is the man who trusts in You!—Psalm 84:11-12

Fear Not…

Comfort from the Word for those who are afraid....

After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

The word shield here means buckler or defense.  From the Hebrew root Ganan meaning to defend, cover surround.  The Lord our God defends us, covers us and surrounds us.  He arms us for the battle and fights for us.

Exodus 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you,--Deuteronomy 1:30a

FEAR NOT...

Gen 26:24 KJV

And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I [am] the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I [am] with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.

Gen 46:3 KJV

And he said, I [am] God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:

Exd 14:13 KJV

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

Deu 31:6 KJV

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

1Ch 28:20 KJV

And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do [it]: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, [even] my God, [will be] with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

Psa 27:1 KJV

[[[A Psalm] of David.]] The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Isa 35:4 KJV

Say to them [that are] of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come [with] vengeance, [even] God [with] a recompence; he will come and save you.

Isa 41:10 KJV

Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isa 41:14 KJV

Fear not, thou worm Jacob, [and] ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Isa 43:1 KJV

But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called [thee] by thy name; thou [art] mine.

Isa 43:5 KJV

Fear not: for I [am] with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;

Isa 44:2 KJV

Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, [which] will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.

Isa 44:8 KJV

Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared [it]? ye [are] even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, [there is] no God; I know not [any].

Isa 51:12 KJV

I, [even] I, [am] he that comforteth you: who [art] thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man [that] shall die, and of the son of man [which] shall be made [as] grass;

Dan 10:12 KJV

Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

Mat 8:26 KJV

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Mat 10:28 KJV

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Mat 10:29 KJV

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

Mat 10:30 KJV

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Mat 10:31 KJV

Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Mat 28:5 KJV

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

Luk 1:13 KJV

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

Luk 1:30 KJV

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

Luk 12:32 KJV

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Rev 1:17 KJV

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

THY SHIELD...

Deu 33:29 KJV

Happy [art] thou, O Israel: who [is] like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who [is] the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

Psa 3:3 KJV

But thou, O LORD, [art] a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

Psa 5:12 KJV

For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as [with] a shield.

Psa 18:2 KJV

The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.

Psa 84:9 KJV

Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

Psa 84:11 KJV

For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good [thing] will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Psa 91:4 KJV

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler.

Psa 119:114 KJV

Thou [art] my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

Pro 30:5 KJV

Every word of God [is] pure: he [is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

AND THY EXCEEDINGLY GREAT REWARD....

Deu 33:26 KJV

[There is] none like unto the God of Jeshurun, [who] rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.

Deu 33:27 KJV

The eternal God [is thy] refuge, and underneath [are] the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy [them].

Deu 33:28 KJV

Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob [shall be] upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.

Deu 33:29 KJV

Happy [art] thou, O Israel: who [is] like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who [is] the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

Rth 2:12 KJV

The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

Psa 16:5 KJV

The LORD [is] the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.

Psa 16:6 KJV

The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant [places]; yea, I have a goodly heritage.

Psa 58:11 KJV

So that a man shall say, Verily [there is] a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

Psa 142:5 KJV

I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou [art] my refuge [and] my portion in the land of the living.

Pro 11:18 KJV

The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness [shall be] a sure reward.

Lam 3:24 KJV

The LORD [is] my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

1Cr 3:22 KJV

Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

Hbr 13:5 KJV

[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Hbr 13:6 KJV

So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Rev 21:3 KJV

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God.

Rev 21:4 KJV

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

verses from the BLB's Treasury of Scripture...

For I Am A Sinful Man…

 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."

But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"—Luke 5:1-8 (emphasis mine)

This was the highest albeit the lowest point in Peter’s life. This was the moment where Peter saw the Lord and consequently saw himself as he truly was…a sinful man. It was also the moment where spiritually he was made alive and conveyed from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of His love.  Faith came by hearing and hearing by the word of God. 

Father…in me nothing good dwells!  I love this story about Peter.  I love how You can take our lowest moments here on this earth and spiritually make them our highest. There is so much of me still “standing” in my own heart that there is not much room for You. You must increase, I must decrease!  Keep my heart humble before You. Help me to see myself as I truly am…hopeless and helpless. Thank you that it is in my humility that You draw near.  May my heart continually sing of Your amazing grace in Your goodness toward a sinner like me.

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.—2 Corinthians 12:9

"I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,

But now my eye sees You.

Therefore I abhor myself,

And repent in dust and ashes."—Job 42:5-6

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.—Ephesians 2:1-10

Thus says the LORD:

"Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,

Let not the mighty man glory in his might,

Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;

But let him who glories glory in this,

That he understands and knows Me,

That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.

For in these I delight," says the LORD.—Jeremiah 9:23-24

Daniel…A Godly Example…

 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, "We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God."

So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: "King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter." Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.—Daniel 6:1-10

I was blessed yesterday and my heart was encouraged by someone telling me in the course of a conversation (and really meaning it) that they were going to trust God with a concern.  “I am going to give that situation to God and trust Him to work it out.” “It is too big for me.”  Now, of course, as believers we all need to trust God with people and circumstances.  But do we?  Do we say it aloud?  Do we pray through it and consciously leave it with Him?  Those words said aloud by another believer to me yesterday really impacted my heart.  If they can trust God with their situation, I can certainly trust God with my own. Beloved, you never know how the words that you say will work in another’s heart or how your godly example will affect them. The prophet, Daniel was just such a man…

He was a man of great faith who loved God with all his heart, mind, soul and strength and lived a life of uncompromising, unswerving devotion to Him. He was a man of prayer who communed with God and trusted Him in the big things as well as in the little things.

Daniel did not let fear impact the fullness of his faith. He knew God had the power to control circumstances and the power to deliver those who placed their trust in Him. He did not attempt to hide his devotion or his dependence on God. He knew who his God was and by God’s Spirit of grace Daniel not only held on to that truth but also held it forth for others to see. Nothing deterred Daniel…his heart was steadfast, trusting His God…

Beloved…when we commit our souls (and our circumstances) to Him, we leave them in a safe place. God is a faithful Creator, and we can trust Him. He is the Potter and we are the clay in His hands.  He is our Creator and has the right to do with us as He pleases.  His will for us comes from His heart of love...our faithful Creator will do what is best. Faith is a choice and our faith pleases God.

As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.—Psalm 55:16-17

Oh, Father…how I long to have a steadfast, faithful, and fearless heart like Daniel’s!  When fear and doubt begin to grip my heart, remind me of Your truth. Remind me that You are near. Help me to speak truth in the face of fear.  Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. 

Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;

He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

A good man deals graciously and lends;

He will guide his affairs with discretion.

Surely he will never be shaken;

The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.

He will not be afraid of evil tidings;

His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

His heart is established;

He will not be afraid,

Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.—Psalm 112:4-8

Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.—1 Peter 4:19

Leaving All…And What Do I Get Out of It…

Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You." So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's,  who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, 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

To My Daughters…

These verses are the last part of a section of Scripture where Jesus is speaking to the difficulty of salvation for someone who has much in this world.  (see study on rich young ruler) When you have much here, you may not really be able to appreciate God's gift of grace in His Son.  You are already fat and happy with what you have and tragically would rather give up God than your money or your possessions.

Peter sounds so much like us here when he says...Look, Lord..."see" we have left all and followed You.  In effect Peter is saying, Lord, what is in it for me?  What do I get out of it?  Pretty sure this is not the heart attitude we are suppose to have in serving our Lord.  It probably needs to be more like Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." --Daniel 3:16-17

Our Lord wants us willing to give Him our all and when we are willing, He repays us one hundred fold both now and in the age to come.  It may not be in the same way and it will be with persecution but repay us He will!  (and remember we are to rejoice when we suffer for His sake...He works it all together for our good and His glory) He assures us in these verses that no one who follows him will ever lose or be without what is really important.  

Truly, whatever He removes from our hearts and/or our lives, He replaces with more of Him.  And here is the thing...at the beginning of a trial you may scream and yell...rant and rave about what the Lord is doing, but by the time the trial has run its course you find yourself thanking God for it because now you see your Lord more clearly and love Him more dearly! The thing that you once considered dear and valuable has become nothing in the light of Him.  Girls, the riches we have in Christ are unfathomable.   Patrick Henry said the following:

"I have now disposed of all my property to my family. There is one thing more I wish I could give them and that is faith in Jesus Christ. If they had that and I had not given them a single shilling, they would have been rich; and if they had not that, and I had given them all the world, they would be poor indeed."

If it were just rewards we received for following Jesus all of us would hop on the bandwagon.  Look at the people that crowded around our Lord to be healed but shouted crucify Him a short time later.  Jesus tests our hearts by allowing trials and persecutions to come our way.  The church of Smyrna described in the Book of Revelation was called the persecuted church...Jesus had nothing bad to say about it.  Why?  I believe it was because there were only true believers in that church.  Persecution had driven the false teachers, the hypocrites and the lukewarm out!  The church was purified by persecution as are our own hearts when faced with suffering for Christ's sake.   It is then that we are called to decide whom we will serve!  Our choices speak volumes to the level of our faith.

You cannot outgive God.  The more we give of ourselves, the more we receive...the more we have joy in this life and treasure stored up in the next. 

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."--Jim Elliot 

Love

Mom