Luke 10:16

Take heart, disciple of Christ, when we go forth on a mission as an ambassador of Jesus to preach, speak or bless in His name, He takes it very personally. This same theme is reiterated in Matthew when Jesus is speaking to His twelve disciples:40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." Matt 10:40-42 (NIV)
Those who would accept deliberately and readily the message or the acts of kindness the disciples were bringing forth in Jesus’ name, were in fact accepting it as from God. Those who would reject that same message or act of kindness were in fact rejecting it as from God. This still holds true for His disciples today. Jesus wants His followers to be aware that acceptance or rejection of the gospel is not an acceptance or a rejection of the person presenting it but of the Lord Jesus Himself. The follower of Christ may be called to give up many things - just as the Lord He follows gave up many things, yet the promise of Scripture is one of sure reward: 28 Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" 29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first." Mark 10:28-31 (NIV)
Everybody needs a Peter on their team to know where they stand! How like Peter to ask the question everyone is dying to know the answer to but is afraid to ask! Jesus does not flinch with His response. You simply cannot out give God. Any “measly sacrifice” we may make in following hard after Christ is exactly that, a “measly sacrifice” particularly in light of our eternal heavenly rewards. “Nothing is really lost by a life of sacrifice; everything is lost by failure to obey God’s call.” Henry Parry Liddon It is not wrong to think in this way as Jesus Himself told us to be prudent in storing up for ourselves “treasures in heaven”: 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matt 6:20-21 (NIV) Our hearts will always be where our treasure lies that is why Jesus tells us to seek Him first. That is why He desires to be our Treasure. This is for our good yet it takes a step of faith to begin to embrace it and flesh it out. As we seek to place Him first in our lives and to be obedient to His call, He in turn, always proves faithful. Jesus tells us in Matthew: 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt 6:33-34 (NIV)
“Whatever a man seeks, honors, or exalts more than God, this is the god of idolatry.” William Ullathorne We must remember that it is by His power, the precious Holy Spirit, which enables us to do anything of eternal value – “Every act of compassion done by anyone for his fellow Christian is done by Christ working in him.” Julian of Norwich “Work designed for eternity can only be done by the eternal Spirit.” A.W. Tozer When He calls us forth to do His will, He equips us with the Power to carry it through. The fleshing out of this calling, though His Power makes every other earthly experience pale in comparison. “Be assured, if you walk with Him, look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you. An older believer who has known the Lord for forty-four years wrote the following as an encouragement to us: ‘God has never failed me. Even in my greatest difficulties, heaviest trials, and deepest poverty and need, He has never failed me. Because I was enabled by God’s grace to trust Him, He has always come to my aid. I delight in speaking well of His name.’” George Mueller