It's been a hectic few weeks. When I would want to just continue in my routine everyday, the issues and demands of life have prevented me from doing so. I am just now getting back to my greatly needed and fervently anticipated time to write, reflect, pray, read...I am so needing of this!
In my reading today in Matthew 19, a man comes to Jesus. He is described as a "The Rich Young Man" in the periscope heading labeling that section in Matthew 19. This man wants to know what good deed he had to do to have eternal life. Jesus runs him through a question and answer session as only Jesus can do.
Matthew 19:16-20 - And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?
Here is the heart of the passage - what does the young man lack? Jesus tells him if he would desire to be perfect to go and sell what he possessed and to give it to the poor, verses 21-22. The young man went away sorrowful for he had great possessions, and we hear no more of him. Did he sell his stuff?
If we are dogmatic in our reading of this scripture we can attempt to apply selling all our goods and giving them away if we read this scripture as instructions to add that to a checklist of things to do to inherit true spirituality. But did Jesus mean it that way?
When we come to Jesus, He knows us. He knows our hearts and what we cherish. He knows our thoughts and what we believe and think. He knows what we have done, and what we will do. He is God after all. In this knowing of us so completely, He challenges us in our questions and intent. And some of the answers to our questions in our discourse with the LORD in prayer and scripture reading may make us sorrowful in the challenges to our hearts and what we hold dear, or what we esteem as necessary or essential to our lives.
I have been challenged greatly lately regarding a situation in my life and I had it all sorted in my head, I thought. Yet in the daily working out of the situation, I have been challenged regarding my assessment of it. I have been sorrowful and questioning at times, and that's OK because I have had to dig deep in my motivations through prayer and scripture, a boot camp of sorts, and that is making me stronger in my journey. I know it is. I feel it.
Romans 12:1-2 - I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Comments