Thursday, March 1

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018

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.'[d]"

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[e] 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."

This passages emphasizes the Christ-followers' duty and privilege to place his or her love for Jesus above every other commitment.  Those other commitments, while perhaps positives in and of themselves, will distract us from fully embracing Christ as Lord of our lives.

Anything short of acknowledging and living under the Lordship of Christ will stunt our growth and dampen our joy.  God has created us for Himself, so that we might know Him and enjoy His presence.  Too often, we value those much less meaningful things of this world because we are able to see and touch them.  God may appear distant and unapproachable.

Yet, the Scriptures testify that God has indeed drawn near to us by sending His Son to this earth.  He has provided proper payment for our sin, allowing those who have repented of their sins and received Christ to approach the throne of grace with boldness.  He desires to become more real to us than anything else.

As Pastor John Piper has written, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."  Our issue, as with the rich young ruler, lies in our tendency to seek satisfaction outside of God Himself and in violation of His holy standards.  Sin emerges from our rejection of God and His offer of intimate fellowship with us.  We prefer other things, and we reject God in the process.

Finding full satisfaction in God requires our earnest seeking after Him (Hebrews 11:6).  That seeking after Him rings through the Psalms and has translated into many changed lives.  It is the only pursuit in life for which we can be certain of success!

I encourage you to take inventory of your hungers, thirsts, and longings today.  Where does God's presence fall on that list?  How could you begin seeking Him more today?  Would reading His Word or seeking Him in listening prayer be an appetizer for you?

Lord God, You have created us for Yourself.  Please give us a passion and desire to know You and to love You and Your people, through the working of Your Holy Spirit in us.  Make Yourself more real to us, and stoke our hunger for Your Word and Your communion with us.  Point out those idols to which we are clinging that may be impeding us from pursuing You with our whole hearts, minds, and souls.  Satisfy and overwhelm us with Your love and grace.  In Jesus's Name, amen.