The Consequences of Following Me

Meditations based on readings from

The Story of My Life As Told by Jesus Christ

November 22, 2019

The Consequences of Following Me

Page 197-198

Matthew 19:27 - 20:16; Mark 10:28-31; Luke 18:28-30

Jesus ended our last reading by telling his followers how difficult it is to enter into the Kingdom of God. However, he assured them they need not worry because all things are possible with God. As we begin today’s reading, Peter asked Jesus, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?” (Matthew 19:27). Jesus’ answer is disquieting. The editors of The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ inserted the words ‘with persecutions’ in Matthew 19:29. Although I cannot find those words in any other translation, I do find that they are consistent with Jesus’ teachings about the cost of discipleship. They are certainly consistent with Jesus’ parable about the vineyard workers which follows.

In the parable of the vineyard, Jesus illustrates the extravagant generosity of God. However, the context of the parable is within Jesus’ teaching about life in the Kingdom and the cost of following him. Did you notice that the landowner never justified his seemingly crazy hiring practices? In the parable, the landowner’s focus is always on the workers and their needs. In the end, the landowner is bringing into his vineyard those who nobody else wanted.

The parable also reveals the nature of people to want to control their environment and enhance their sense of entitlement. The workers said they ‘deserved more’ even though they were given exactly what they bargained for. Never is there a mention that those workers did more than they agreed. Ultimately, I believe Jesus wants us to see that Christian virtue is its own reward. If we will remain focused on reaching out to the least, the last and the lost, Jesus will take care of everything we need.

My Takeaway: Again, I return to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33).

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Copyright © 2019 by Alex M. Knight

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

• Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

• The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.