Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: 'DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,' 'DO NOT MURDER,' 'DO NOT STEAL,' 'DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,' 'Do not defraud,' 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.'" And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.---Mark 10:17-22
Dear Girls,
What do we know about this man? We learn from the accounts in Matthew and Luke that he was young, very rich, and a ruler. We know that he came running to Jesus and knelt before Him and asked what he could do to inherit eternal life. I think this young man knew something was wrong...he was successful in the eyes of the world and was doing all the right things on the outside, but I believe he knew something was missing on the inside and came to Jesus for help. Many of us live our lives this way....looking good in the eyes of the world...saying and doing all the right things but feeling empty inside.
Jesus questions him as to why he calls Him good telling him that there is only One that is good. I think the young man understood that Jesus was telling him that if he was calling Him good than he must believe that He is God. So here is this rich young ruler coming to God and asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus reminds him of the commandments and the young man says that he has kept all of them from his youth.
Scripture says that Jesus looking at him, loved him and told him that He lacked one thing. Here is what he told him: "Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."
Jesus saw through the outward and looked into this man's heart and told him the reason for his emptiness. Jesus was not giving him a way of salvation here...He was trying to point out to the young man that he had broken the law of God and needed a Savior. He was worshiping the wrong thing. His god was his possessions and his money. Exodus 20:3 says that we are not to put anything before God. This young ruler's riches owned his heart. His self effort and his pride was the wall between him and Jesus. Jesus wanted him to turn both his heart and life over to Him. He was unwilling to do as Jesus asked. The man tragically went away sad.
It is a miracle when any one of us comes to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. What keeps men from coming to God and receiving His free gift of salvation? The bottom line for everyone who does not is that they love their sin more than they love their God. This man's riches robbed him of eternal life. His outward position might have been bowed before the Lord, but his heart was not.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. --Psalm 139:23-24
Love
Mom
Monday, May 30, 2011
God Will See Us Through...
Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.--Mark 10:13-16
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
When was Jesus greatly displeased....when the disciples rebuked those who brought the little children to Him. The Scripture says that when Jesus saw this He was greatly displeased and told His disciples that unless one received the kingdom of God as a little child he would by no means enter it. Jesus..the God of the Universe...then took these little children up in His arms and blessed them.
Jesus said volumes here. Meditate on what it is like to be a child and you will see His point. A child is marked by trust. They humbly depend on others to provide for them, care for them, and see them through. A child does not worry about what he is going to wear or where his next meal is coming from. A child when hurt or in need cries out and runs immediately to his father or mother....trusting that they can fix the problem. There is also a lot that a little one must accept by faith...he does not understand much and knows he does not understand much. He does not concern himself with tomorrow or try to explain or rationalize things that are too great for him. We tell our kids to grow up and behave like an adult. Jesus actually tells us responsible adults to do the opposite...to behave like a child.
I love this. There is such comfort here. Life is hard....full of difficulties and curve balls. It is too much for any of us. Jesus tells us He does not want us to handle it on our own. In fact...He does not want US to handle it at all. He says to come to Him...cry out to Him...run to Him. He is the God that performs all things for us. He is the God that perfects all things that concern us. We can trust Him. This is the attitude we need when we first enter God's kingdom....one of total dependence on the mercy of God. One that understands with heart knowledge, as a child does, that he is helpless and unable to save himself. This also needs to be the heart of a child of God throughout his journey here on earth. He walks with His God by faith, without fear, knowing that He is loved by his Father and that He will care for his every need.
Jesus modeled this by living His life here on earth in total and utter dependence on His Father in Heaven. He said nothing and did nothing outside of His Father's will. Jesus puts a little child in front of us as an example....reminding us of how He lived and how we are to live. What a wonderful gift He gives us in this picture. A child because he does not worry about tomorrow can enjoy the moment....He is secure. He knows his parents love him and will care for all his needs. He can revel in the moment. Walk by faith...cast your burdens upon the Lord...He cares for you. Know your God will see you through.
"For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.--Matthew 6:25-34
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
When was Jesus greatly displeased....when the disciples rebuked those who brought the little children to Him. The Scripture says that when Jesus saw this He was greatly displeased and told His disciples that unless one received the kingdom of God as a little child he would by no means enter it. Jesus..the God of the Universe...then took these little children up in His arms and blessed them.
Jesus said volumes here. Meditate on what it is like to be a child and you will see His point. A child is marked by trust. They humbly depend on others to provide for them, care for them, and see them through. A child does not worry about what he is going to wear or where his next meal is coming from. A child when hurt or in need cries out and runs immediately to his father or mother....trusting that they can fix the problem. There is also a lot that a little one must accept by faith...he does not understand much and knows he does not understand much. He does not concern himself with tomorrow or try to explain or rationalize things that are too great for him. We tell our kids to grow up and behave like an adult. Jesus actually tells us responsible adults to do the opposite...to behave like a child.
I love this. There is such comfort here. Life is hard....full of difficulties and curve balls. It is too much for any of us. Jesus tells us He does not want us to handle it on our own. In fact...He does not want US to handle it at all. He says to come to Him...cry out to Him...run to Him. He is the God that performs all things for us. He is the God that perfects all things that concern us. We can trust Him. This is the attitude we need when we first enter God's kingdom....one of total dependence on the mercy of God. One that understands with heart knowledge, as a child does, that he is helpless and unable to save himself. This also needs to be the heart of a child of God throughout his journey here on earth. He walks with His God by faith, without fear, knowing that He is loved by his Father and that He will care for his every need.
Jesus modeled this by living His life here on earth in total and utter dependence on His Father in Heaven. He said nothing and did nothing outside of His Father's will. Jesus puts a little child in front of us as an example....reminding us of how He lived and how we are to live. What a wonderful gift He gives us in this picture. A child because he does not worry about tomorrow can enjoy the moment....He is secure. He knows his parents love him and will care for all his needs. He can revel in the moment. Walk by faith...cast your burdens upon the Lord...He cares for you. Know your God will see you through.
"For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.--Matthew 6:25-34
Love
Mom
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