Jesus made a promise in Mark 10 and Matthew 19 that, although our lives include sacrifice and suffering, those who walk with him have God’s supernatural provision.

Jesus said it like this:

Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. (Mark 10:29-30 ESV)

How is Jesus’s promise fulfilled?

This promise is fulfilled through people like you and me who open our hearts to be someone’s brother or sister or mother or father. And, we open our resources to provide, in one way or another, opportunities for “houses . . . and lands . . . now in this time.”

Five years of the Ramp in Manchester

I’ve been reflecting on how Jesus’s promise works out in my life as we’re celebrating five years of Ramp Church Manchester.

I'm forever grateful for the people God has brought to give us tastes, reminders, and living-proof that Jesus faithfully takes care of us, and that there is reward not just on the other side of eternity, but in the here and now as well.

Joe and I have been so touched by a friend who initiated the idea of fundraising so we can replace the single-pane windows in our new house with double-glazing. We’re so close to fully meeting this goal >

What does this mean for you?

There are things in our obedience to God that are really hard, but there are even more undeserved gifts of God’s grace and goodness that, as Paul said, far outweigh the suffering (see 2 Corinthians 4:17 and Romans 8:18).

I reflect on these essential truths for our walk with God in my message called “Missional Hospitality & Generosity.” You can catch it on YouTube, podcast, or below.

You never know what goodness-of-God lies right around the corner!