Victorious

May 19, 2022 AdminLeave a comment

It began in heaven. The decision was made within the Godhead to send Jesus to earth to accomplish the “salvation plan”. Here’s how it went. Paul enlightened the Philippian Church, writing that Christ Jesus “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant” (2:6-7). Jesus demonstrates to us how to control pride of place. Status often means so much to us as human beings, doesn’t it? Victory number one!

The story continues. Jesus’ parents found Him in the temple, where according to the custom He had celebrated His ‘Bar Mitzvah’ at twelve years of age. Returning home, the missed him and returned to find Him discussing theology with the Rabbis. “Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers”! (Matthew 2:42-47). We might have thought a young boy, quizzed by the religious leaders of his day might have been timid, but not so for the One who created the system, and the people who were practising it. Victory over fear of what people might think!

We’re all familiar with the “temptations” which Jesus endured during 40 days of fasting in the wilderness (Matthew 4). Satan tried his best to weaken Jesus’ resolve to do His Father’s will, but “Hallelujah” failed to deter Him. Victory #3.

Throughout His life, short as His ministry experience was, Satan tried to taunt Him, ridiculing Him for making Himself equal with God, for calling God His “Father”. The final blow might have been when people mocked Him for saving others, but not saving Himself. He had wrestled, as He faced the awful trauma of crucifixion which lay ahead of Him, as He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. How well do we handle our own fears? If we knew we would suffer pain and humiliation, would we pass the test? The miracle of calling it all off at any point would have devalued the very reason for Jesus coming to earth in the first place – Victory #4 overcame fear of personal pain!

Folks gathering around the foot of the cross failed to see the victory that Jesus experienced by His very death. The reality was He could have saved Himself, but immediate satisfaction would have destroyed His purpose. He had to die that man might live! Hadn’t the angel prophesied to Joseph “She will give birth to a Son and you are to give Him the name ‘Jesus’ because He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). And so for us today, we read: “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all” (2 Corinthians 15:14-15). Victory #5. Will we take up Peter’s challenge “Christ suffered for you, leaving an example, that you should follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21)?

We know that we will live eternally with Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Our certain hope is based on His resurrection. Imagine life without such joyous anticipation? And He was seen, over a period of 40 days, “giving many convincing proofs that He was alive” (Acts 1:3). Again we read Peter’s words “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact” (Acts 2:32). Victory #6!

Reflection:

If we have put our trust in what Jesus has done, then do we trust His promise that He will come again? Are we preparing for His return? At that time He will have His final victory of evil! Sin and death will no longer provoke us because Satan and his angels will be cast into the Lake of fire to stay, forever (Revelation 20:10). Praise God! Seven, the perfect number – seven victorious moments in the life of Christ, bring us the greatest of all possible joy!

by Marilyn Daniels (MarilynDaniels.net)

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Victimized

May 10, 2022 AdminLeave a comment

The little child who was worshiped by Kings from the east, became a man. In the intervening years it had not been easy to be parents of the Christ-child. They had to endure public opinion about Mary’s unexpected pregnancy. Then at the tender age of two Jesus was seen to be a threat; sought by Herod the King after the Magi came looking for a new baby king. Led by God, they fled to Egypt to keep this precious child safe. We might recall the tragedy that befell innocent babies in Ramah (Matthew 2:1-2, 16), as this wicked king sought to extinguish the Son of God.

Herod died, so the family returned home. For nearly thirty years Jesus lived quietly at home in Nazareth. What were His thoughts as He learned His earthly father’s trade? What sort of life did He have with the question of His paternity hanging over His head? We sense that within the home things were not always easy. What was it like for His siblings to live with the eldest child, who had a history of being worshiped as King?

One commentator labels Matthew Chapter 10 as “The Program of the King; the Program announced”. Chapter 13 becomes “The Program Altered”, then “The Program Attacked”. Here we see the community in which Jesus grew up, explodes! Jesus had been going “through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness” (Matthew 13:35). Coming back to His hometown, He began teaching in the synagogue where amazement quickly turned into indignation. “Where did this man get the wisdom and these miraculous powers?” and “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?” Suspicion grew! “Isn’t His mother’s name Mary?” and they went on to list His brothers by name, attempting to destroy His reputation, as a child sent by God (Matthew 13:53-57).

His ministry became perhaps the greatest example of human fickleness, because so many people followed Him for all the wrong reasons. Human nature is hard to change. Crowds followed Him for what they could get – healing and hope. They longed to be free from Roman oppression; surely this miracle-worker would engineer the ultimate miracle for their oppressed nation. Consider the burden this expectation put on Jesus, who described “My Kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).

Most of us experience problems with sibling rivalry or criticism, jealousies or competition during our life time. As we have seen, Jesus was not immune to these human inconsistencies. However, the real test came at the end of His ministry when the “religious right” decided the time had come to get rid of this maverick teacher. They became passionate to extinguish what they saw as blasphemy, making Himself equal with God (John 3:34-35). After all, how many times had Jesus called God His Father? And now He was forgiving sins? (Mark 2:5-7).

Jesus became the ultimate victim of a religion whose leadership had lost the concept of a personal relationship with God. Their abuses were heaped onto the people they were given the privilege of leading spiritually, in the form of rules and regulations which were almost impossible to keep. What was one more injury to add to the list, and so we find their consciences seared. Crucifying the Christ was nothing to so many who needed to know the God they said they worshiped, is a God faithful to His promises.

Reflection:

In the end an abuser reaps what he sows. Sadly in the eternal scheme of things, those who victimize the Christ, are eternal losers.

by Marilyn Daniels (marilyndaniels.net)

Devotional

Hosanna!

October 25, 2021 AdminLeave a comment

Matthew 21:6-16

Hooray! Yeah! Hosanna! Exclamations of excitement and joy! Jesus was being celebrated as He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. “Hosanna” is Hebrew for save, an expression of praise.

Once a year we make a special effort to thank God for all that He has given to us; the date varies from culture to culture, but usually centres around harvest time. At Easter we sing praises for the sacrifice of Jesus’ life, but what did the people of Jerusalem know about Jesus that caused such accolades this particular year?

Israel lived under oppression. The nation desperately wanted a Saviour. This man from Galilee was a miracle-worker like no other. Could it be that God would use Him to save them from the Romans? Was this idea the impetus that created crowds crying out “Hosanna”?

Prophecy identified a king riding on a donkey into Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:9). As we have noted before, donkeys were not the usual mode of transport for kings, so this unusual event would attract attention! David prophesied “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Psalm 118:26) and Jesus Himself acknowledged His claim to be the “Son of David” (Mark 12:35). These folks acknowledged that link.

It often fascinates me how God orchestrates His work in this world. In Noah’s day sin was rampant. Why did He not send the Saviour then? Why did He flood the entire world, wiping out mankind except for Noah’s family? What was it about the era which spawned silence from Almighty God for 400 years, then caused Him to send His only begotten Son? What is God’s next step of judgment on a world who denies, rejects, mocks this precious Son?

Do you ever wonder what it would be like for Jesus to come riding into your world today? What would crowds of people say? Hosanna? Crucify Him? Actually He is riding into your world and mine, on the words of proclamation each believer has been given. Are we shouting Hosanna? Or do we keep silent?

Reflection:

Hosanna! Save! Cries from anxious hearts yearning to be free! What do we pray for today? What binds us like prisoners of fate? What would cause us to cry “Hosanna” “Save” to our neighbours, our colleagues at work, our family members – dearest and nearest?

by Marilyn Daniels (MarilynDaniels.net)

Devotional

Little Children

October 10, 2021 AdminLeave a comment

Matthew 18

Have you ever stopped to analyze the characteristics that make little children so delightful? Recently I was reading a commentary on the portion of scripture we are studying today. It aptly describes a child as one easily lost in awe “the doors of life flung wide open to wonder”! (Daylight Devotional Bible). Most of us have experienced the tugging hands which are so eager to show us what they have discovered, gasping in surprise, belly laughing when something is funny.

Have you ever noticed how in total innocence a child cries without shame? As sophisticated adults we often try to hide our tears.. Thankfully our Saviour shed tears, according to the Biblical principle laid down by the Apostle Paul “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). What a pity to lose the innocence of childhood in the fear of looking childish. There is such a difference between the two.

The Lord Jesus is recommending we become like little children and in this chapter warns against giving offense to any little ones. Notice His reference to their guardian angels (18:10). Do we stop to take into account that little ones have a God-given protection? So in the spiritual realm, babes in Christ are protected by the power of the Holy Spirit. It would be better for a mill stone to be hung around the neck of anyone who puts a stumbling block in their way (Luke 17:2).

Consider what this might mean. Have you ever felt discouraged? What if you or I were responsible for discouraging a new believer, causing them to doubt the Lord’s ability to care for them, or to doubt the purity of His intentions? God forbid that we should ever cause them to foster false doctrine.

So what does He mean for you and me to become like little children? Who of us would want to look weak and dependant. How we fight to gain independence, forgetting sometimes that the ultimate goal of maturity is interdependence.

Jesus uses the term “Little Children” lovingly. Nurturing is part of His compassionate, loving nature. If we wish to be like Him we need the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit growing these characteristics within us from the very DNA of Christ our Lord. We cannot achieve this on our own, but need to surrender to God’s leadership, just as if we were little children ourselves. Perhaps one of the greatest acts of surrender is exemplified in the life of our Lord who taught us to pray “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

Reflection:

Do we feel it is demeaning to be called little children? If so how can we relax in the arms of our Heavenly Father? The Bible warns us to put away childish things, comprised of fear and envy, covetousness and even tantrums, when we don’t get what we want, or think we deserve. That is behaviour unbecoming to any child and requires the Father’s discipline. How blessed we are to have a Father who cares deeply enough to guide us in paths of righteousness “for His name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3).

by Marilyn Daniels (MarilynDaniels.net)

Devotional

Subtleties of Satan

October 3, 2021 AdminLeave a comment

Matthew 26:26-28

Have you ever wrestled with a problem that just won’t go away? Sometimes we struggle with unforgiving thoughts, resentments, feeling that life just isn’t fair. Perhaps we are perplexed because we don’t understand what God is trying to teach us, or we are fearful about the future, unsure if we can fit in with God’s will. There are so many things that take our focus away from the Lord Jesus. Satan has no end of strategies.

Surely in Church our minds will be able to see Him, lifted up in worship. Communion, that holiest of ordinances, of course is one of those occasions. I have watched men handle the loaf of bread as tenderly as if it were the body of the Lord, prepared for burial; the reverence that is due Him may be seen, whether our thoughts would be worthy of examination.

It took me three days to ask God’s forgiveness for disrupting a communion service. Oh I doubt anyone but my immediate friend knew the struggle I was having, but the Lord knows everything. The little cup of wine was so cleverly devised that all we had to do was lift the cellophane off the wafer and then expose the tiny wine glass. I couldn’t get the wrapper off the wafer we were using in a COVID scenario; the problem just wouldn’t go away! I had used these before, but as I sat struggling, it never occurred to me that this was a battle against the Evil One.

Satan does not want us to celebrate Jesus. He sits at our elbow ready to turn our eyes away from the One who is Light and Life. On this particular Sunday where were my thoughts of reverence? Did I really need to use the wafer, to make me remember the dear body of my Lord, broken for me and my sins? Of course I am not forgetting the words of Jesus as He prepared His disciples for what was to come. “Take and eat; this is My body” (Matthew 26:26).

At that moment in time His words could not have held the same meaning for the men who listened, as they would have in future days and years to come. Two thousand years later what do Jesus’ words mean to you and to me today? As I celebrate the broken body of my Lord, is it in spirit and in truth, or has it become a ritual? The struggle I had that day was with something in my hand, but wasn’t it also with something in my mind? Where was the sadness about my Lord’s costly sacrifice? Where was the gladness for God’s free forgiveness of my sins? What was I thinking about God’s amazing grace, His unconditional love? Why was it so important to conform to tradition?

Thankfully the Holy Spirit brings to our minds opportunities that are lost, so that we can ask for God’s forgiveness. How precious it is to know “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9).

Reflection:

We need to be aware that issues of tradition might subtly distract us from the real goal of worship. Satan will use any ploy to dissuade us from tenderly recognizing the precious body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, broken and poured out for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28). Without His sacrifice there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22). How lost I would be without Jesus! Lesson learned? Let us fix our eyes on Him, forgetting the apparent struggles at hand.

by Marilyn Daniels (MarilynDaniels.net)

Devotional

Outreach

September 21, 2021 AdminLeave a comment

Matthew 28: 19-20, Acts 1:8

“GO” Jesus said to His disciples. By example He had done that very thing when He left the glories of heaven to come to earth. Often when we think of that word we conjure up images of foreign lands, differing tribal customs and unknown languages. We don’t think we can handle all of that, nor do we feel “called”. So what does Jesus mean – is that really a command, and it is a command, only for a few?

The Apostle Peter, addressing “God’s elect, strangers scattered throughout…” [the then known world] (1 Peter 1:1), said “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood….a people belonging to God” (1 Peter 2:9). Are you a chosen a child of God? What is God’s purpose in drawing people like you and me into His family? How thrilling is it that we have an eternal purpose as children of God? It is to these people that Jesus left His last commission.

However, in focusing on the word “Go” we sometimes forget the rest. “Make disciples”. A disciple is exactly what Peter described, a person belonging to God, one who follows in the steps of Jesus. “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you” (1 Peter 2:21). We need to remember the tremendous cost of our becoming children of God. This is no casual adoption but was made with great care (Ephesians 1:5). Peter goes on to remind us, you and me today, that Jesus suffered for us, “leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps” (2:21).

So, we are chosen, called and equipped to follow Jesus’ example of making disciples. Where do we do that? Jesus left us in no doubt. We are to start in Jerusalem – that is, at home. It is a lot harder to live for Jesus in a place where people know us well, our foibles and weaknesses. They know how to pull our triggers, and can test our sincerity. Once we pass that test, of making our words and deeds match, then we are ready to go into Judea. Where is your Judea? Is it the work place? Your community? Your church? Isn’t it curious when Churches promote “Outreach” they think beyond their doors? Yet, if the truth be known, there are a lot of folks who go to church who need discipling so that they, in turn, can make disciples.

Some believers are called to go “to the ends of the earth”, but Samaria lies between. Have you ever had a “Samaria” experience? This is where people have a different belief system, whether it is atheistic of New Age, or one of the other great world religions. Samaritans had corrupted the purity of the Jewish faith, making a syncretic system by combining faith in God with the Assyrian religion. Do you understand Jesus enough to lovingly explain what you believe, to share the wonderful relationship you have with the Lord Jesus Christ with people who have adopted wrong ideas about Christianity? In Samaria we may find folks who have been wounded by the legalism of an errant church. How can we encourage their faith in Jesus? Samaria prepares us for outreach at the ends of the earth.

Reflection:

Let us not forget that it is living in the light of the love of God that best enables us to share the new life we are enjoying – a life of peace because our sins have been forgiven, a life of purpose because someone reached out to show us the way. Remember Jesus said “I am the ….Way” (John 14:6). What is it that we fear about sharing Jesus with others? Are we truly in love with Jesus? Or, is it that we know our words and deeds don’t match? Do we feel inadequate because we don’t know scripture well enough? I have found there is always something more to learn from God’s Word. If I wait until I know it all, I would never talk to others about what I do know. In our hearts do we recognize that we are really lukewarm, or even cold, when it comes to feeling responsible for those who are lost? What is it that prevents us from honest outreach?

by Marilyn Daniels (MarilynDaniels.net)

Devotional

Valuing the Vulnerable

February 21, 2021 AdminLeave a comment

Matthew 18:3

Jesus showed a tenderness towards children by both word and deed. Parents must have sensed this because they brought their children to Him to be blessed, for Him to lay His hands on them and to pray for them. (Matthew 19:13). When Jesus’ disciples protested He spoke words that over centuries of time have become famous. “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them” (:14).

Mark records a further demonstration of His love, saying that Jesus “took the children in His arms” (10:16). He cuddled them. Physical touch was important to Him. Just imagine the memories of those children in years to come. The actual touch of One who would become Saviour of the world!

Earlier as He was teaching His disciples about the kingdom of heaven and who would be “first” there, Jesus took a small child into His arms as an illustration of His point, saying: “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the One who sent me!” (Mark 9:37). This certainly prioritized the important deeds the disciples might have imagined themselves doing, in His name!

Jesus went on to explain: “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child, will never enter it” (Mark 10:15). Now that is humbling. What sort of intellectual assent could a child give to something of such magnitude as the kingdom of heaven? But that was just the point! Coming into the kingdom of God is “not by might nor by power but by my Spirit, says the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6)….and His Spirit could reveal truth to a little child. I can attest to that since I knew Jesus was my Saviour at a very early age. I also knew I was naughty – a sinner who needed to ask God’s forgiveness for my daily sins – a wonderful habit to begin as a child.

A child has very little to offer in an adult world. They are learning. But what they do have to offer, no amount of education can teach. I have seen mentally challenged children, perhaps the most vulnerable of the vulnerable, giving gifts of love and trust to their adult counterparts. How amazing is that? We can learn from their innocence, from the very dependency of children, how to relate to God who views us as His children.

Jesus explains again: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). He goes on to say this would require humbling themselves in order to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (:4). John the Baptist understood this. “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). There was no cousinly jealousy, no competition in ministry. Perhaps this is why Jesus described John as the greatest among those ever born of woman! (Luke 7:28).

As children of God we have the privilege of calling Him our Father! He knows us well – we are so vulnerable to feelings of pride, the need to control our lives (and perhaps the lives of others as well). We are weak in understanding the bigger picture and the plans God has for us. We see relationships from our own perspective, rather than through the eyes of Jesus. Yes – we are very vulnerable! But Jesus takes us in His arms and blesses us. He is in heaven right now praying for you and for me (Hebrews 7:25).

Reflection:

Why do we often turn away from those who are vulnerable? What does that tell us about the inner person?

When we truly love, how do we express that?

Do we love those who are vulnerable in words only, or in deeds?

by Marilyn Daniels (marilyndaniels.net)

Devotional · Uncategorized

Immanuel

December 22, 2019 AdminLeave a comment

jesus christ figurine — Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Pexels.com

Matthew 1:18-23

Our Lord Jesus had many names, Immanuel being one of them. It means ‘God with us’. Most frequently remembered as a name from Isaiah’s prophecy, we sing songs about Immanuel at Christmas time. Matthew records the fulfillment of this prophecy (Matthew 1:23) .

Dr. Richard Bucher has found over 100 names and titles given to Jesus throughout scripture. Each one is rich with meaning as it identifies a significant characteristic of our Lord. He suggests that none has such great meaning as this one – Immanuel.

In a sense God has always been with His people – “Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?….Do I not fill heaven and earth? Declares the Lord” (Jer. 23:24). God never lost an awareness of what was going on in the lives of His people. But the reality is they had shut Him out of their lives.

Sin often separated the Israelites from their God (Isaiah 59:2). Isaiah further describes details of Israel’s sins and their consequences, in the rest of this chapter. Other scriptures like Psalm 14:2-3, 1 John 1:8 and James 2:10 clearly reveal that all mankind is sinful before God. However, the Lord’s message was always one of hope “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear!” (Isaiah 59:1, 16, 20). Even in exile, experiencing the consequences of their rebellious hearts, God was present (Ezekiel 16:59-60).

Knowing we cannot live righteously on our own, evidenced by the Israelites’ failure to keep the 10 commandments, the Mosaic law, God knew further help was needed. He who longs for relationship has lavished both His grace and His love on believers (Ephesians 1:8, 1 John 3:1). The condition for receipt of His gift of love is that a person must believe and receive it (John 1:12).

Reflection:

As with His people of long ago, today the same need exists! Sin separates us from a pure and holy God. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, Isaiah 64:6). We need GOD with us! Imagine – we have been given the Holy Spirit to indwell each person who repents of their sin and asks God to reign in their lives! Merry Christmas! This is God’s message to humankind, as the babe became “Immanuel”.

by Marilyn Daniels. http://www.marilyndaniels.net

Devotional · Uncategorized

Keeping it Simple

August 18, 2019August 18, 2019 AdminLeave a comment

green wooden chair on white surface — Photo by Paula Schmidt on Pexels.com

Matthew 18:2-4

After years of teaching the Bible to adults, it seemed a daunting task to try to teach little children about Jesus. Why? In our sophisticated, developed world Jesus is no longer known. God is not recognized in our schools because we have become a nation with many gods. Although man’s imagination has gone wild, creating fanciful science fiction movies, how easy would it be to describe a spirit to kids today?

In Genesis we read “The Spirit of God hovered over the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:2). As a child that captured my attention with thrilling mystery! God, who cannot be seen, was there at the dawn of creation! I was giddy with anticipation! What is that God really like?

Centuries later, because time does not restrict God as it does human beings, God revealed Himself. He took on a human body, specially made. We celebrate that body at Christmas time. Imagine! The God who inhabits the universe became a baby here on earth. How restricting is that? Ah – but God who is omnipresent (present everywhere), was not confined just in that baby’s body. He is everywhere; His spirit was not confined to the body of Jesus.

My curiosity increased as I read on! Mankind was made in the image of God. Why? What does that mean? God created human beings with the ability to think, so that we could have fellowship with God (1 John 1:3). This fellowship we call prayer…having conversations with God. The Bible tells us He hears us when we talk with Him and when we have problems, He even hears our cries.

When we hurt, the heart of God hurts, and like a father, He longs to help us. Part of being like God is that we have feelings. For example: We can love God because He first loves us. We can love our families, friends, and neighbours because God gave us feelings. We also feel sad when someone does something wrong, just as God does.

Each human being is made up of a visible body, but like God we have, within that body, our spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). We are to keep ourselves pure, clean in body, mind and spirit. How can we do that? By knowing God – thinking like God, acting like Jesus.

We have a record of Jesus’ life in the Bible so that we know how to follow Him. He was kind and gentle with everyone, children and adults, people who were rich or poor, men and women, Jew and Gentile. Being like Jesus pleases God. How can we be like Jesus?…by asking Him to take control of our imaginations, our thoughts as well as our feelings, and our behaviour.

How does He do that? By putting the Holy Spirit inside of those who invite Him to take charge of their lives. I did this when I was a little girl and as a senior now, I can tell you Jesus has led me all the way. The Holy Spirit comforts me when I am sad, but He also makes me aware that when I sin I need to ask God to forgive me. Otherwise I feel out of fellowship with God. The Holy Spirit guides me in the choices I make, when I ask for His help. My life has been full of adventure because I have followed Jesus’ teachings, because I wanted my life to please God!

Reflection:

What fellowship have you enjoyed with God? Can anything break that fellowship?

When you say you follow Jesus, what does that look like to God and to others?

Keeping it simple, can you share Jesus with others?

By Marilyn Daniels. http://www.marilyndaniels.net

Devotional · Uncategorized

Go Sell All

July 28, 2019 AdminLeave a comment

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Mark 10:21

These are the words of Jesus – His response to an earnest seeker. The young man was eager to keep the law; he had religiously done so since his youth. He approached Jesus reverently, falling to his knees and calling Him “good teacher”. Mark records that Jesus looked at him and loved him. There was instant rapport!

Perhaps this is one of the saddest stories in scripture. The young man wanted to know what he could do to inherit eternal life (:17). Since his religion was so important to him, we might wonder why Jesus was so tough, so direct.

Often Jesus gave responses that are hard for us to understand. Note His query “Why do you call Me good?” In its absolute sense “good” was a word that referenced God’s character. Was Jesus reacting to this designation because He knew the young man really had no concept of His divine nature? “No one is good except God alone…”(:18)

This reminds me of Matthew’s record of the sheep and the goats on judgment day. Judging from external appearances a certain group of people had visited the sick, those in jail, fed the hungry etc. but Jesus responded to their claims of service very harshly. “Depart from me – you are cursed!”(Matthew 25:41).

Perhaps the answer lies in the simple truth that there is nothing anyone can do to inherit eternal life. The answer Jesus eventually gave was very revealing: “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor” (:21). What was the passion of this young man’s heart? It seems it was his wealth. Jesus, knowing his heart, asked him to give up the most important thing in his life, but he could not. His face fell as he left Jesus.

There is uncertainty in our world today about what it means to be a Christian. Do we follow the rules, as this young man had? Are we religious, devoted to doing things for God? What is it that Jesus was trying to teach this young man and His disciples, who witnessed this scenario?

The answer is given by Jesus Himself. Matthew records His message, often referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth….but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven….For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

Jesus was interested in the heart, not the treasure. If we are truly able to call Him LORD, (good) we need to have surrendered all that we are and have, to His control. This the young man could not do.

Reflection:

Applying this scripture to ourselves are we willing to pray “Search me O God and see if there is any wicked way”(Psalm 139:23), anything lacking in my heart and life, as was identified by Jesus in this man’s life? Is there anything you and I treasure more than God’s will? Are we willing to sell all for Jesus’ sake?

By Marilyn Daniels. http://www.marilyndaniels.net