A favorable return

I think we often fear giving up things in our lives because we don't think we will get those things back. These things we give away could be material or even sensory things. Maybe even both.

There are things that we have to give up when we make a decision to surrender everything to God. If there are things that we do that are sinful, but we continue to do them over and over again, we have to do our best to pray to God to give us the self-control to not do those things. There are hundreds of things that we see and do on a daily basis that take our attention away from God. God might not even cross your mind.

This is wild to think about...but I have definitely lived more days where I didn't think about God at all, compared to days that I did...

Ever since I started reading my bible on a daily basis, God crosses my mind everyday. In the past two years, there were probably only a handful of days where I didn't think about God at all. In order for me to find time to spend in the word, there were things that I had to get used to giving up. Maybe less video games, time on my phone, time spent at the gym, etc.

Those are just some of the ways I spent my time in college. Some of those things were hard for me to give up. For example, this past year, there were times where I had some free time in the evenings, and instead of going to the gym to get shots up, I went to the coffee shop to read and write. It's funny, if someone would've told me that I would be reading my bible and writing instead of getting some extra shots of my senior year of college I would've laughed in their face.

I started to learn that life was more than just basketball during my sophomore year of college. I still loved basketball and the extra time I spent working on my game was something that was very valuable to me. It took me two years to learn and understand that giving up that time for something that would last forever was the best decision and I could tell from the fulfillment I felt.

I am not telling you to give up on things that you love because it's important to do those things, I am encouraging with the fact that God has a favorable return for all of the things that you give up for him.

One of those things you can give up is simply your time.

Check this scripture out that really encouraged me to write about this today:

Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." (Matthew 19:28-30)

Jesus is telling them that that those who give up the things that are most important to them for his sake will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. Not only are we receiving a favorable return for what we give up, but most importantly, we will inherit eternal life!

You might ask the question: If I accept Christ and my family rejects me, what is going to happen? When you accept Christ into your heart, you gain huge new family of believers.

I know there are a lot of things that we don't want to give up. We are humans and we have busy lives, how could we ever find some time for Jesus? You find the time by making a choice. You decide to read your bible instead of watch an episode of Netflix. Instead of sleeping in until you absolutely have to, wake up 20 minutes early and read your bible. I could go on and on and on...

15 minutes a day can change your life. It's never short-term fulfillment right now, it's always about eternal life with God. Your return for giving up things for Jesus and finding time for him is eternal life with God in heaven someday. If you ask me, that is a pretty favorable return...