Mark 10:28-31 God’s Payback
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: March 9, 2018, Mark 10:28-31
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Then Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “I tell you with certainty, there is no one who has left his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields because of me and the gospel who will not receive a hundred times as much here in this world—homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields, along with persecution—as well as eternal life in the age to come. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
(Understanding the Text) They may have been walking along the road here. The rich young man had approached them just as they were getting ready to set out on a journey. “As Jesus was setting out again, a man ran up to him, knelt down in front of him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mar 10:17). Then, the rich young man left sadly. After that, Jesus looks around at His disciples and comments about the problems of being rich. Another possibility is that they sat down on the roadside to talk with the rich young man and were still sitting there to have this conversation before they got up and started walking to wherever they were heading.
The disciples were shocked because Jesus had turned over all of their cultural ideas of what it meant to be rich. Peter might have needed some reassurance here. Jesus had just told them that it was impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, but then Jesus had turned around and said that with God all things are possible. Peter may have been wondering if Jesus was saying that the disciples might not enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus had just told the rich young man to sell everything, give it to the poor, and follow Jesus. Thus, Peter pointed out that the disciples had done what Jesus asked of the rich young man.
(Application / Revelation of God) Jesus’ response is both positive and negative. It is a reassurance and a promise, but it is also a warning not to think that God should be grateful that we are sacrificing for Him. It is a warning not to feel sorry for ourselves for what we have given up. It is an admonishment to look for the blessings that God has given us because we have left behind valuable things and people in order to serve God. However, it is also a reassurance and a promise that God wants to bless us and delights in giving us gifts. God may have to call us out of the world for our own good. He may have to take us away from family in order to bless others who are in need, but He promises that He will not leave us in need. We will be housed and gain loved ones through our ministry. On the other hand, He tells us that it will not all be blessings, but we will also receive persecution for working for Him. God delights in blessing us and will give us many good things as we serve Him, but He also knows that we are His soldiers in a war and that Satan will attack us if we are serving God.
Jesus promised eternal life in the age to come, but He also promised a fulfilling life here and now if we choose to serve Him and follow Him wherever He leads. Then, He goes back to the original consideration of being rich and having a lot. He says that many who are first-in power, in wealth, in prestige-in this world will be last in the age to come. He says that many people who are seen as of no importance here in this world will be considered important in the world to come because of their service here in this world. Jesus is once again focusing on the idea of service to others as opposed to power over others and having others serve you.
I must claim Jesus’ promise that I am not giving up anything that will not be replaced with something of more value if I only focus on serving Him and following where He leads. He does not promise that I will not be attacked by Satan, but He promises that He will provide for me economically, socially, and spiritually. I have to trust that He will keep His promises.
(Prayer) I pray not to neglect family, but I give them to you because I am a failure at showing them who You are. I claim Your promise of blessings for myself and my family. Give me strength and purpose and energy to follow where You lead and to not count the cost. I ask for faith that You will be with me in all things.