Mark 10 was the text used for one of the Sunday messages. As I read more of the surrounding Scriptures I was moved, inspired.
📖 17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
We know that this was to warn us about loving money and material things. Putting them ahead of everything...especially our relationship with Christ.
📖 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
But it got me thinking. What is it I am holding on to? What is that one thing I won't let go of when asked by God?
Sometimes it is material things, but what about attitudes (anger, hurt, even sorrow), or time, or even relationships. I take these verses to say that we have to be willing to give up anything He asks of us.
📖 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 19:29-30
📖 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
📖 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. Luke 9:23-24
See that? Deny ourselves, nothing specific....for each of us it is different. What we must give up and sacrifice will be different for me or for you, and I believe different at different times. The point is that we are humble and serving God in all we do and when the time comes that we must give up or sacrifice something we are willing and ready....we don't hesitate and cling to what has possibly become too important....more important that following Him. Did you also notice..."daily"? We may need to deny certain things daily....as our natural instinct is to be self focused, self centered.
Oh to be able to say;
📖 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
As we move toward Palm Sunday and Easter week may we understand, with our hearts... our souls...not just our minds.. the sacrifice Christ made for us.
🙏Lord I pray that we come before You humble, help us to see when we have placed more importance on something other than You and give us the desire and strength to let go and leave anything that is asked of us for Your sake. Amen♥️
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