Reflecting on Luke 18:23-30“What is impossible with man is possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)
In the context, Jesus is talking about the impossibility of our condition.
We cannot be saved by “what must I do” (Luke 18:18).
We have lost our original creation ability to love as God intended.
No amount of memorizing or obeying the laws can change this.
No amount of sacrifice (giving up all for the kingdom) is sufficient.
The blessings of eternal life are for those who trust in God for this.
They long to love as God intended, but admit their inability.
They follow Jesus for this reason, to know and to grow in God’s love.
Jesus does not set the bar high to discourage us, but to help us see.
Grace is how God overcomes our sin, and grace is how God saves us to live.
“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
The Moses Law was given as a teaching tool to point us towards gracious love.
It gives a list of ‘for examples’; love does not kill, or steal, or deceive, etc.
But ‘not killing’ or ‘not stealing’ is not love; love gives, love serves, love shares, love cares!
To love like Jesus is beyond me… but with God’s help I can grow in that direction.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, following You humbles me... I cannot love like You. Following You comforts me and inspires me... You love me anyway, and invite me to learn to love with You. I am loved by grace alone. Help me to do what seems impossible... to learn to love others by grace alone too.
The gospel in one word is love. Jesus showed and lived that love. I need to be like Jesus by practicing the way each day. His diciples then followed their Rabbi to learn how to live and I too, guided by His Spirit continue to learn and grow to be like Christ unto others. This is my daily challenge in my living for Jesus.