Day 67: That One More Thing To Do Might Be ....
Read: Mark 10: 21 - 31
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it
will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’ 24 And
the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them
again, ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! (verses 23 - 24)
Did you happen to catch something about the way
these verses are phrased? They are phrased as questions but they are
delivered by Jesus as stern pointed statements meant to hold the
disciples' attention in place. There was a sharp lesson that Jesus
wanted them to be wholly aware of. Try to picture the look in Jesus'
eyes, the stern appearance of His face as He is taking the time to
deliberately look at the face of each of His disciples. Envision the
look in Jesus' eyes, the stern appearance of His face as His attention
suddenly turns towards you. Jesus is teaching you something.
The stern tone in Jesus' voice would seem to imply that the answer to
the statement is seemingly rather obvious to them if they would just
open their mouths and talk about why they were following Jesus in the
first place. Why had they so quickly left their lives as fisherman
behind? Why had they unquestioningly left their livelihoods behind to
follow Jesus all through the vast wilderness? Subjected themselves to hardships
they could not have envisioned themselves being in the middle of. Why
had they not turned around, gone back to the way they were living before
Jesus called on them? Most important of all might be why didn't they themselves try to talk to the rich man?
21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go,
sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ 22 When he heard this, he was
shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
Please observe for yourselves what the disciples who were standing there observed:
This is what they stood there observing: 'When the man heard what Jesus
required of him, he was shocked and went away grieving for he had many
possessions.'
Now observe what did not happen: the disciples
did not follow after this man and try to offer their testimonies to him.
There did not seem to be much effort devoted to encouraging this
'shocked' man who desired nothing more but to follow after Jesus. They
did not offer to provide any assistance the man may have needed to help
him come to grips with making the same decision they had already
unquestioningly made. The man desired change, the man needed encouragement to change, and apparently the man received nothing of what he needed at that critical moment. So I just sit here
and wonder: Is this why Jesus sternly said "What does it take for
anybody to enter God's Kingdom!" Jesus loved him, had compassion for him.
The disciples just stood there and let him walk away 'shocked'!
Now Pray long and hard, carefully considering your own place in this story: How well does that 'I'm going to do nothing but watch' attitude sit
in your heart? Been there, done that? Me too!
Lord Jesus Son of the Living God, Forgive my poor efforts at sharing my life's testimony with those in need that You have placed before me. Help me to be more courageous, to move my life far beyond my powers of observation and inaction. Guide me through this valley of darkness, into the light where I can be bold enough to step forward becoming a difference to someone.
Read: Mark 10: 21 - 31
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’ 24 And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! (verses 23 - 24)
Did you happen to catch something about the way these verses are phrased? They are phrased as questions but they are delivered by Jesus as stern pointed statements meant to hold the disciples' attention in place. There was a sharp lesson that Jesus wanted them to be wholly aware of. Try to picture the look in Jesus' eyes, the stern appearance of His face as He is taking the time to deliberately look at the face of each of His disciples. Envision the look in Jesus' eyes, the stern appearance of His face as His attention suddenly turns towards you. Jesus is teaching you something.
The stern tone in Jesus' voice would seem to imply that the answer to the statement is seemingly rather obvious to them if they would just open their mouths and talk about why they were following Jesus in the first place. Why had they so quickly left their lives as fisherman behind? Why had they unquestioningly left their livelihoods behind to follow Jesus all through the vast wilderness? Subjected themselves to hardships they could not have envisioned themselves being in the middle of. Why had they not turned around, gone back to the way they were living before Jesus called on them? Most important of all might be why didn't they themselves try to talk to the rich man?
21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ 22 When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
Please observe for yourselves what the disciples who were standing there observed:
This is what they stood there observing: 'When the man heard what Jesus required of him, he was shocked and went away grieving for he had many possessions.'
Now observe what did not happen: the disciples did not follow after this man and try to offer their testimonies to him. There did not seem to be much effort devoted to encouraging this 'shocked' man who desired nothing more but to follow after Jesus. They did not offer to provide any assistance the man may have needed to help him come to grips with making the same decision they had already unquestioningly made. The man desired change, the man needed encouragement to change, and apparently the man received nothing of what he needed at that critical moment. So I just sit here and wonder: Is this why Jesus sternly said "What does it take for anybody to enter God's Kingdom!" Jesus loved him, had compassion for him.
Now Pray long and hard, carefully considering your own place in this story: How well does that 'I'm going to do nothing but watch' attitude sit in your heart? Been there, done that? Me too!
www.youtube.comMusic video by Josh Wilson performing I Refuse. (P) (C) 2011 Sparrow Records. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction is a violation of
No comments:
Post a Comment