In Deuteronomy 7:11-15, Moses lists all the benefits of Israel’s separated life unto the Lord:
A relationship with the faithful and merciful God, love, blessing, fruitfulness, and divine protection.
Now see a separated life’s counterpart in the New Testament—abundance, but with persecutions:
“Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first” (Mark 10:28-31 KJV).
John Wesley articulates well the meaning of Jesus’ words,
“Not in the same kind: for it will generally be with persecutions: but in value: a hundredfold more happiness than any or all of these did or could afford. But let it be observed, none is entitled to this happiness, but he that will accept it with persecutions.”
We must know and accept that a separated life unto the Lord will bring contempt from the world; yet, as Paul said, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18 ESV).
Moses stated that God would bless Israel in their separate life; Jesus also said to followers,
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12 ESV).
And the Apostle Paul concluded in his last correspondence to Timothy,
“It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:11-13 KJV).
Thank God today for the abundant life He has given you despite any temporal circumstance you may be facing. Rejoice and be exceeding glad that your name is written down in heaven—and reigning with Him is on the horizon!
