Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Devotionals by J.M. Farro


The Costs and Rewards of Discipleship


"Peter said to [Jesus], ‘We have left everything to follow you!’ ‘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 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.’"
- Mark 10:28-30 NIV

These verses should be a great comfort to those of us who have made sacrifices to follow the Savior and do His will. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus warns us that those who want to be His disciples should be prepared to make sacrifices. In Luke 14:33 (NIV), He says, "Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple." Of course, most of us will not be asked to give up everything we have, but Jesus is referring to a certain mindset and attitude of the heart here. God wants us to be willing to surrender to Him all that He asks us to. And He wants us to know that discipleship can be costly. But serving God has its rewards, too. Look at the above verses again. Jesus says that no matter who or what we give up, we will receive a hundredfold return in this lifetime, as well as eternal life in the next. The Savior is assuring us here that we can't outgive God! And the more costly the sacrifice, the greater the reward.

The apostle Paul knew what it was like to make great sacrifices for God. He was a well-respected Pharisee when the Lord called him into service on the road to Damascus. He sacrificed his reputation, his family, his friends, and eventually his life, to follow Jesus. He endured endless persecution, as well as repeated beatings and imprisonments. Yet look at these verses he wrote in Philippians 3:7-8 (NIV): "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ..." What is God asking you to give up today? A relationship that is not in His will for you? A job that is separating you from His greatest blessings? Some form of entertainment that is detrimental to your relationship with Him? Whatever it is, if you will surrender it to the Lord, He will reward you in unimaginable ways. After all—"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him"! (1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV)

Prayer: Lord, it is my heart's desire to be Your disciple and follow You. Give me the grace I need to wholeheartedly surrender to You all that I have and all that I am. Help me to make the sacrifices I need to so that nothing and no one will ever come between us. Thank You for rewarding me with abundant blessings and a closer relationship with You!

- J. M. Farro

 

go to main Devotionals page
go to Devotionals archive

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Friday, March 14, 2025
ALBUMS
Shout Praises Kids! Español Buen Dios [Integrity]
UPPERROOM 1350 (Live) [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
1K Phew All I Need - Single [Reach]
Anchor Hymns Walk With Me/How Precious Your Presence (feat. Caroline Cobb, Sarah Kroger, and Stefan Cashwell) - Single [Integrity]
AZ Christlike Greater Works - Single [Syntax]
Big Daddy Weave Let It Begin - Single [Curb]
Blanca This Won't Take My Praise (feat. Taylor Hill) - Single [Curb]
Jekalyn Carr Don't Faint - Single [WayNorth]
Clemency Whole Heart - Single (independent)
Coqui only Idol - Multi Single [DREAM]
Just Cordell Wait - Single (independent)
Adriel Cruz We're Not Alone - Single [Syntax]
Grace Graber, Daniel Spriggs My Favorite Part - Single (independent)
Illustrate, Procyse Mask Off (Daniel DeGree Remix) - Single [Polished Arrow]
Knaladeus Your Love - Single [Syntax]
LO CLOUD Stars Align - Single (independent)
Newsboys How Many Times (oh how You love me) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Blessing Offor Lift Me Up - Single [Capitol CMG]
Nate Parrish Small - Single (independent)
Josiah Queen Yesterday is Dead - Single [Capitol CMG]
Emmy Rose Tend (Live) - Single [Bethel]
Tedashii Heavy Heart - Single [Reach]
Todd Tilghman Holy Place - Single [StowTown]
Brandon Watson Too Far Gone - Single (independent)

Next Friday, March 21, 2025
ALBUMS
Kayla Berry Soar - Single (independent)
Diatheke ...And The Word Was God [Rottweiler]
Ellie Holcomb Sing: Spring Songs [Capitol CMG]
Jesus Culture Worthy of Hallelujah (Live) [Capitol CMG]
Tauren Wells Let The Church Sing - EP [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
Pat Boone ONE - Voices for Tanzania - Single [Lamb & Lions]
Faith Worship Arts The Lifter (Live) - Single [DREAM Worship]
Life.Church Worship Christ In Me - Single (independent)
Seph Schlueter Turn It To Praise - Single [Provident]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out the newest JFH Metal compilation - FREE!
Get JFH's 13th free indie compilation now!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images