2004-01-02
Good Morning Treasured Ones,
Last week I wrote about MT 10: 17-27, the story of Christ’s encounter with a rich young man who asked the Lord what is required to receive eternal life. You’ll remember that Christ’s answer was for him to sell his possessions, give the money to the poor, and live according to God’s commandments. The young man couldn’t bring himself to do this and went away with gloom spread over his face. This is a tough lesson, especially for people today living in North America. Compared to other countries, we have so very many material things and comforts. Unless we see how others live, we can’t imagine what life without them is like. As my devotion ended, I realized that there was more to say about his important story.
Christ is not suggesting that we are being told to live in such deep material poverty that we can’t function. Instead, He is asking us to examine what we have and to make the distinction between wants and needs. The concept of not surrounding ourselves with so much material wealth that we make it an idol is the point. Christ wants our focus to be on Him, not for egotistical reasons, but because He knows that is how we are going to live sanctified lives of righteousness. We must not miss the all-important truth that we have been given the greatest gifts of all-Christ’s sacrifice of His life on the cross so that we can be saved and the gift of the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. The book of Romans is one of the most helpful books on doctrine in the NT. We gain illumination on this view of Christ’s perspective from RO 3: 23-26. “All have sinned and fallen far from the glory of God [His saving presence]. But by the free gift of God’s grace all are put right with Him through Christ Jesus, Who set them free. God offered Him, so that by his death He should become the means by which people’s sins are forgiven through their faith in Him. [In other words, Christ is the propitiation for our sins]. God did this in order to demonstrate that He is righteous. In the past He was patient and overlooked people’s sins; but in the present time He deals with their sins, in order to demonstrate His righteousness. In this way God shows that He Himself is righteous and that He puts right everyone who believes in Jesus.” How much clearer can the importance of our focus being on Christ be?
In the story of the rich young man, you’ll remember that he asserted that he had always lived according to the Ten Commandments. However, this was a delusion. If one reads through EX 20: 1-17, there is a command this young man had broken. It is EX 20: 3-5, “Worship no other god but Me. Do not make for yourselves images of anything in heaven or on earth or in the water under the earth. Do not bow down to any idol or worship it, because I am the Lord your God and I tolerate no rivals. I bring punishment on those who hate Me and on their descendants down to the third and fourth generation.” The young man’s idol was his riches. He loved them more than he loved his God. None of this means that Christ didn’t love the rich man. However, if we look carefully at RO 3: 26, we see the responsibility that Christ takes in not allowing an exception to His principle with this young man. God can’t demonstrate His own righteousness if there aren’t consequences for refusal to turn from sin. We must never forget the God loves the sinner, but hates the sin. MK 12: 30 reiterates DT 6:4-5, “Love the Lord your God with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Place this commandment along side JN 15: 5-7, and we see the need for mankind to carry out the covenant promise made. “I am the Vine, and you are the branches. Whoever remains in Me and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without Me. Whoever does not remain in Me is thrown out like a branch and dries up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish and you shall have it.”
There are some questions that each of us must ponder and ask ourselves. 1) What is my relationship with Jesus Christ? 2) Do I want the Kingdom now? 3) On Whose terms can I have it? 4) Who is my master, my sinful bodily desires or the triune Lord God? 5) Is there anything keeping me from knowing God and obeying Him? 6) Is this thing that separates me from God worth missing out on inheriting the Kingdom with Christ? Tough questions-you bet they are! But, nevertheless, we must answer them for ourselves. I can certainly see a need for praying first before tackling them. From my own experience, I find myself tempted to walk away from taking the hard road that leads from the narrow gate [MT 7: 13-14] at times. There are times when the pain I have makes me want to pack it all in; however, when I consider the consequences spiritually in the long term, giving in to Satan’s attacks simply isn’t worth it. While God doesn’t promise us that our earthly lives will be easy, He certainly has provided each of us with sufficient reason to stick with our faith in consideration of the eternal phase of our lives. Take comfort in these precious words from JN 14: 1-2, “’Do not be worried and upset,’ Jesus told them. ‘Believe in God and believe also in Me. There are many mansions in My Father’s house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so.’”
PRAYER: O Lord, while it is true that You prescribe a life of difficult choices, ones which go against our natural selves, You also provide the means by which we can make these choices. Moreover, You promise to answer our prayers [PS 116: 1], to grant our desires when they are the same as Yours [JN 15: 7], to bless us abundantly through thick and thin [PS 67:6], to protect us when we are in harm’s way [PS 91: 11], to equip us to battle Satan’s attacks to victory in Your Son’s name [EPH 1: 18-20], and to love us with patience and compassion [RO 8: 28]. It is for the love of You that we must choose to turn away from materialism. This is not a choice to stop being materially productive; it is a choice to take only what we need from the proceeds and to give the rest to those less well off than we are. Dearest Father, You show us through the feelings we are given when we share with others what a blessing that can be. These offerings of help and material wealth can be given in secret, and You will still bless us with the knowledge that we have pleased You. Since we were created for this purpose, then we can know that we are taking steps to fulfill it. You have never and will never break any promise You have made to us. We know this in our hearts. You are an awesome God Who loves His children. PS 56: 13, “You protect me from death and keep me from stumbling, so that I would please You and follow the light that leads to life." PS 103: 13, “The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who have reverence for Him.” What greater love can there be than that which You have in Your desire to share Your glory with us! RO 8: 18, “I consider that what we suffer at this present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be reveals to us.” We humbly confess our sins and offer ourselves upon Your altar to praise, thank, obey, serve, and love You dearly. We are both Your servants and Your friends. Our desire is to revel in Your presence in our lives and to forget ourselves, carry our crosses each day, and to follow Your Son [LK 9: 23]. In His holy name, amen.
As we consider the aspects we are told in the Scriptures about the coming glory, I am led to discuss the comparison of the Parable of the Wheat and Tares with the Sermon on the Mount in next week’s message. As I wrote this message, I parted with an old friend of 50 years today-my piano. It was a difficult decision to have it leave my home, but that decision was made easier in knowing that it will end up being used for God’s purposes in a local congregation here. In addition to that, the new owner has pledged to recondition it and to have it tuned. That thought delights me, as I couldn’t afford to do those things now. I had many years of enjoyment with that piano, but it was only giving me pleasure. Now, it will give God pleasure. It’s new owner is the music director for his congregation. As for me, God will provide more music in my life; this I know. Often over the years, God has closed one door to open an even better one. He is a Constant, One Who can be trusted. I may not know exactly how He will do this for me, but I know He will. It is my sincerest hope that each of you will come to know the same thing in your own relationship with our loving and generous Lord. Yes, I keep using the word “awesome” for Him, knowing full well that our human language isn’t adequate to describe His goodness. He will always be the Covenant Partner Who keeps His promises. What a blessing His presence in our lives really is! Celebrate that with me and know that there will be a day when all our pain and sorrow will come to an end forever, because of His love for each of us.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn