Page 155 - Grace150 Devotional

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will 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.”
Mark 10:29–30

“It is hard to leave home!” “It’s not fair to put a career on hold.” “It’s hard to miss
graduations, and Christmas, and funerals, and weddings.” All spoken by missionaries
across the world since the Great Commission. While true, they diminish the glory
of the promise—that our reward is in Christ—knowing Him, enjoying Him, and
suffering with Him. And these promises are true not just for missionaries, but for
anyone who takes the gospel seriously and realizes that following Christ is daily
taking up your cross and leaving comforts, convenience, and entitlements.
The words of Matthew 6:33 give such gospel comfort: “All these things will be
added unto you.” By faith we believe that eventually all is made right, but what
about right now? We see it fulfilled now in the continuing expansion of the
church—those wayfaring stations along the way—literally brothers and sisters
and mothers and houses across the world that share Christ in common. What
sweetness to find fellowship wherever we may venture! These words should also
bring us some solemnity, because there will be persecutions (even a hundredfold!)
for His sake. But oh, the sweetness of the promise to know they are for the sake
of Christ and His gospel!
Oh Lord Jesus, grant us this day the ability to see the expanse and the majesty
of Your Body, the church, across the age and across the expanse, knowing that
we have gained mothers, brothers, and sisters a hundredfold. Please give us
also the ability to relish in Your promises that even in trials and persecutions,
we have the privilege of knowing You and Your gospel as we relinquish our
lives. For the sake of Your kingdom and Your glory, amen.
– Abram J. Bicksler

Abram and Rebecca have lived and worked in Chiang Mai, Thailand, for almost nine years,
with their children Ellie (8) and Benji (6). Abram is the Director of the ECHO Asia Impact
Center, which is a Christian technical resourcing and networking organization that equips
workers with ideas, innovations, seeds, and best practices in agriculture so they can help
improve the lives of the poor in Asia.

devotions for the journey DAY 148