Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. Mark 10:28-30 (New Living Translation, NLT)

Have you sacrificed in order to do what God has told you to do? Maybe you left a comfortable job to go where He told you to go. Maybe you had to go where you did not know anyone, leaving family and friends behind. Possibly you turned down a promotion or a better job because you knew it wasn’t God’s will for you. There are many possible scenarios, ranging from relationships we’ve had to turn away from to financial gains we’ve had to give up in order to get God’s best.

If you have given up anything for the Lord, this passage is really good news for you. No matter what we choose to give up for God, He is more than able to give it back to us, and 100 times more than what we sacrificed. And it is even more wonderful because we get rewarded in this life AND in the life to come. We never come out on the losing end when we sacrifice for God. No matter what we give up for Him, He turns around and gives us 100 times more!

There are three words in this passage that some people will choose to focus on: “along with persecution.” Of course, there will be persecution that will accompany our rewards. We are not naive enough to believe that the devil won’t give up anything to us without a fight. He will stir up people with jealousy and anger over our victory. However, we have authority over him, and his efforts will be futile if we trust in the Lord and choose to rest in Him.

Be assured, no sacrifice is overlooked by God. What you have given up will be given back to you- and then some.