January 29

Exodus 8-9

Matthew 19:13-30

Psalm 24:1-10

Proverbs 6:1-5

One word came to me as I was reading today's passages: stubborn.

Egypt was continuing to suffer because of Pharaoh's stubbornness. Frogs, gnats, flies, dying livestock, boils, hail... and that won't be the end of it. God's message to Pharaoh was falling on deaf ears and a hard heart. He was refusing to listen despite the undeniable signs all around him.

In Matthew, a rich man asked Jesus what he must do to get eternal life. I have a feeling that this man was expecting a certain answer from Jesus. He may have been hoping to hear that keeping the commandments was the way to eternal life (which is what Jesus first said). This man seemed to think that he was doing pretty good with keeping the commandments. "All these I have kept. What do I still lack?" Again, I'm wondering if he had expectations. Did he think Jesus would just say, "Nothing! You're good. Keep up the good work!" But Jesus didn't say that. He told the rich man that he had to give away everything he owned. That was probably not what he expected. He went away sad. Now, we don't know if this man eventually listened to Jesus, but in this moment, he was stubbornly holding on to his possessions.

We are all guilty of stubbornness. I don't know what makes us think that we know best, or that we don't have to listen to God, or that we will be fine if we do things on our own. All it brings us is unnecessary suffering. 

So what do we do about our stubbornness? I think the answer can be found in Psalm 24:

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it;

for He founded it upon the sea,

and established it upon the waters.

Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?

Who may stand in his holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart...

Who is he, this King of glory?

The Lord Almighty -

He is the King of glory."

Acknowledging who we are and who the Lord is. Surrendering our position (which was something we never had to begin with!) and asking God to make us clean and pure. These are the first steps in disspelling stubbornness. Holding on tightly to our ways and our possessions will only lead to suffering.