Accepting Jesus Christ is not a free pass to an easy life. We cannot just sit back and let Jesus do everything. The author of Peter's letter insisted that Jesus expects us to be holy, and in order to be holy, we have to prepare ourselves to meet the Lord. Jesus expects us to use the time, experiences, and opportunities that are presented to us for spiritual growth and transformation. We don't know when our lives will end, or whether they will be short or long. That doesn't matter - it is important to treat each day as a precious gift and use it for the glory of God and for the good of others.

In the Gospel, Peter was upset - the rich young man had just departed dejected and sad. Jesus had told him to sell everything and come to follow him. Jesus remarked how difficult it was for those with wealth to enter the kingdom of God. Peter's question: what about us? We have left everything to follow you! But Jesus reassured them that they would eventually receive a hundredfold for their sacrifice. Sometimes we don't trust God - we feel that others are getting a greater advantage and we are being cheated. God can be trusted, for God is just, compassionate, and generous. Jesus ended with a warning: those who are high and mighty now and have everything might find themselves on the bottom very soon, while those on the bottom would be lifted up. Let us labour out of love and gratitude rather than hope for a reward, and let us never feel that God has let us down.