Text: Matthew 8:20 KJV
Further Reading: Matthew 8:18-20
And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Matthew 8:20 KJV
MESSAGE
Many follow the Lord today because of what they would gain from Him. They fixate their eyes on the material blessings that they can get from following Jesus. This is only half true, even though God’s will is to bless and prosper His children, following Christ may also come with the low season of nothingness.
In our reading of the day, the Bible told us of a man who wanted to follow Jesus and how the Lord gave him a simple picture of nothingness. Even though He was the Son of God, Jesus Christ had no place to lay his head. He was not hanging out at a swanky hotel and catching fun.
Even as you follow the Lord, He may route you through some of those nothingness experiences. Are you prepared for this? Will you be willing to go all the way with Him?
Consider the story of Elisha in 1 Kings 19:19-21, he was a man who went from being wealthy to becoming nothing just to follow Elijah. Though that sacrifice paid off in the end. Behold, Christ who is greater than Elijah or any other prophet, will you be willing to follow him even into nothingness?
This means that you may come to the point of living from meal to meal and having to completely depend on God for your everyday needs. In other circumstances, it may be the inability to pay your bills or other nothingness circumstance. These are some of the costs of following Jesus.
Are you currently going on the path of nothingness with Him, don’t be discouraged because the end always pays. This was how the Lord answer the trouble of Peter’s heart and I hope it does work as a reassurance in your heart that God is not punishing you, but it is the cost for following Jesus.
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.
Mark 10:29-30 KJV
At the end of the nothingness, there is usually something. God will give you great earthly and eternal rewards.
REFLECTION
Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
Luke 18:28 KJV
Nothingness is not the end but a part of the pathway to glory. Keep following Christ, He will lead you through.
PRAYER
Father, help me to always rejoice even in having nothing knowing that you will assuredly bring me to my expected end.
