SCRIPTURE: Mark 10
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“I tell you the truth,” 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 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields–and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. [Mark 10:29-30] What kinds of things are people looking for in this life? What are they willing to sacrifice to get them? The fact is, people seem willing to sacrifice their marriages, their children, their peace with God, their reputation with their peers, just to get ahead, just to come out on top. Sad thing is, after all the sacrifice, they still end up on the bottom.
To sacrifice for self, and to sacrifice for God and others, these are two opposite paths. Both promise fulfillment, but only one delivers. The path of self has offer divine pleasure since the serpent enticed Adam and Eve to sin, to be like God. And look at the result. Ever since that same enticement is luring us all, and often the enticements involve money, sex or power (the unholy trinity).
Jesus says that those who sacrifice for Him and for others, will actually receive abundant blessing, starting in this life (mixed with persecution), but perfectly in the next life. The wealth Jesus speaks of is not my own, but the shared blessing that all believers experience, when they hold everything in common. The new family of Jesus is richly blessed, and as a member I share in that blessing too. Ideally the church ought to be a place where no one has need, where everyone is as rich or poor as their neighbour because everyone willingly shares their love and possessions [Acts 4:32-34].
Is this what I see in the church as I experience it, or as I participate in it? Do I treat everyone as my family, do I eagerly share my resources with others, including my vehicle, my home, my kitchen, my cash? Are we more like the rich young ruler than we are like Jesus? Are we more driven by money, sex and power than by faith, hope and love?
Jesus has modelled the better life. It’s a simple life, one that young children seem to understand and appreciate better. Its to bad that we grow up like we do, and put aside child-like simplicity and become preoccupied with things that will never make us happy. We are so blind. We need our eyes opened, to see God and life and eternity in perspective, to see what really is worth holding on to.
PRAYER:
Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! I want to see!
Eyes they have but do not see. Bartimeus was blind but now he sees. Not only has Christ Jesus healed him, but Bartimeus continues to follow Him. To know is to do. Seeing how the Lord has blessed me in my life is one thing, but to continue to serve Him all the days of my life is another. I must continue to walk in His light on my pilgrim’s progress – until I am in the ‘celestial city.’
Help me this day Lord to not only be GodStrong but also to LiveStrong – walking with You all the day. Open my eyes Lord that I may see.
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.