City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

²⁸ And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” ²⁹ And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers^{[Or wife or brothers and sisters]} or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, ³⁰ who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:28-30 (ESV)

⁶ Seek the Lord and live,
    lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph,
    and it devour, with none to quench it for Bethel,
⁷ O you who turn justice to wormwood
    and cast down righteousness to the earth!

⁸ He who made the Pleiades and Orion,
    and turns deep darkness into the morning
    and darkens the day into night,
who calls for the waters of the sea
    and pours them out on the surface of the earth,
the Lord is his name;
⁹ who makes destruction flash forth against the strong,
    so that destruction comes upon the fortress.

Amos 5:6-9 (ESV)

Reflection

How can it be that Jesus is saying that one should leave their wife for the kingdom on the one hand, but say, “what God has joined together, let no one separate” on the other?  How can Jesus say that the children should come to him, while He is saying that we should leave our children?

For years I have read these passages but have never been confused by these questions.  I think it is clear that Jesus is not telling us that we should walk away from our responsibilities, or to abandon people who we have pledged lifelong commitments.  He is telling us that if we are to join His family, we must be willing to let go of our ownership of these things and trust Him with them.

In the 1972 movie, “The Godfather” the scene opens with an undertaker asking The Godfather, Vito Corleone, for justice.  For this, Vito Corleone tells him that he will owe him a favor.  The price for joining the family of the Godfather is loyalty and an exchange of favors.  As I understand it, this story is actually based on the book of Judges.  In a society riddled with government corruption, the people will look for a judge to give them justice.

But this is not quite like the kingdom that Jesus is offering us.  He is looking for us to pay a price for joining the kingdom of God. However, that price is not based on what we can bring to the kingdom, but rather what we are willing to leave out.

Application

So, what are you willing to release to the judgement of God.  At first you might think about things you have in your house, but in this passage, Jesus is pointing to relationships.  Are you willing to hazard difficult discussions with close relations for the sake of the kingdom?  Are you willing to lose the esteem of friends and family because you are upholding kingdom values, as opposed to worldly values?

We are called to God’s kingdom to be salt and light to a lost and dying world.  So, God is not looking for you to figure out how to save the world.  He has already figured that part out.  He is looking for you to be faithful to His plan, regardless of the worldly price you might pay.  Jesus promises that He will more than replace anything you have to give up for the kingdom.  So, the final question is, are you willing to trust Him?

Prayer

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?

² When evildoers assail me
    to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
    it is they who stumble and fall.

³ Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
    yet I will be confident.

⁴ One thing have I asked of the Lord,
    that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
    and to inquire in his temple.

⁵ For he will hide me in his shelter
    in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
    he will lift me high upon a rock.

⁶ And now my head shall be lifted up
    above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
    sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

⁷ Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
    be gracious to me and answer me!
⁸ You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
    “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
⁹     Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
    O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
    O God of my salvation!
¹⁰ For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
    but the Lord will take me in.

¹¹ Teach me your way, O Lord,
    and lead me on a level path
    because of my enemies.
¹² Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
    for false witnesses have risen against me,
    and they breathe out violence.

¹³ I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living!
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the Lord!

Psalm 27 (ESV)