Heavenly Reward
Encouragement & challenge
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Then Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, there is no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of God’s kingdom who will not receive many times more in this age—and in the age to come, eternal life.”
Luke 18:29-30 (NET)
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These verses are both an encouragement and a challenge.
The encouragement:
I’m encouraged by the promise Jesus makes here. That for those who make sacrifices for the sake of God’s Kingdom, a reward awaits.
It’s no small thing to be on mission for God and see it lead to a division of family or home. It’s a harsh reality of life for many believers, especially those coming from unbelieving homes in other religiously dominated cultures.
God promises that our sacrifices for His Kingdom’s sake — even these great & painful ones — are not in vain.
A heavenly reward awaits.
The challenge:
To live my life with this eternal perspective.
Knowing that I must stick close to God, align myself with Him and His Holy Spirit so that I can be an effective citizen of His Kingdom.
It’s a hard task, working for Jesus.
Harder (much harder, in my opinion) if you face the reality of this division.
Yet I have absolute confidence in God’s goodness. I do believe Jesus when He tells us this. And so I continue to lean into God, abiding with Him more and more so I can do a great work for Him.
We almost never get to see the ripple effects of our work, instead we trust that they’re there.
I’ve seen similar ripples of other’s Christian labor (think of church history or missionaries). I trust God to do something similar with my life, if only I am obedient.
I aim to please God.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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