Matthew 16:24-28
“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.” vs. 27
Those who love the regular assurances of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness in scripture can become a bit uncomfortable with verses indicating that one day there will be payback for all that we have done. The problem is that the verses are there…if we just ignore them we’re missing a part of the message. In context, these verses are meant to provide comfort and hope for followers of Jesus who have lost their lives for his sake. He’s assuring us that any perceived loss is nothing when compared to the ultimate gain. In Matthew, that promise is fleshed out more completely in chapter 25 when Jesus says that the final judgment is based on how we have responded to the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the strangers, the sick and those in prison. This final teaching in the gospel promises that “just as you do it to one of the least of these…you do it to me.” It’s hard to misinterpret Jesus’ point, and he means for us to take it seriously! However much we relish the gospel of grace and ultimately depend on it for salvation, there is no doubt how Jesus intends for his followers to live in this world. And when we do live this way, he also wants us to know there will be blessings. We have his promise on that!03
Thought for the Day: How am I being repaid for what I’ve done?
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