The Caveat in an Abundant Life
Notice all the benefits Moses listed for Israel’s separated life unto the Lord as seen in Deuteronomy 7:11-15:
• A relationship with the faithful and merciful God
• Love
• Blessing
• Fruitfulness
• Divine protection.
Now see what a separated life offers in the New Testament—abundance…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 hundred fold 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 separated life. Jesus spoke blessing to followers as well, “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).
Let’s thank God today for the abundant life He has given us, despite any temporal circumstance we may be facing.
Rejoice and be exceeding glad that our name is written down in heaven!
