Mission Possible
Opening Prayer
As you prepare for this reading, pray for grace and determination to follow where Jesus wants to lead you today.
Read Luke 18:18-30
[18] A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” [19] “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good-except God alone. [20] You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'” [21] “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. [22] When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” [23] When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. [24] Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! [25] Indeed, 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] Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” [27] Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” [28] Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” [29] “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God [30] will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
Why do you think Jesus told the man to sell everything?The rich young ruler was polite and respectful to Jesus, but he didn’t understand who Jesus was. If he had, surely he would never have made the choice, to rely on his good deeds and his possessions rather than on the man who had the real answers, even if they were answers he didn’t like. For once, Jesus’ disciples had understood enough to make the right choice. Deep inside their hearts, they responded positively to him. And so, when Jesus called each one, they gave up everything they had to follow him. They realized that even family, possessions and jobs couldn’t save them. It looks as though the disciples and the rich young man are heading for very different eternal destinies, but God didn’t leave it there. Without his grace, a change of heart is impossible. Camels just don’t fit through needles’ eyes. But in God’s revolutionary new kingdom, even hearts weighed down with too many things and too much to do can be changed. Jesus reassured his friends that they’d made the right decision in following him. The sacrifices they made for his sake would be rewarded.
Apply
It’s hard to let go of the things that make us feel safe. How can you rely more thoroughly on Jesus today?
Closing prayer
Lord, I pray that whatever I have will never come between us. May I rely on You first and always.
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