“Teacher,” he declared, “all these (God’s commandments) I have kept since I was a boy.”
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
John 10:20-22
“Jesus looked at him and loved him.” It’s the same for you. Jesus sees you, right where you are in your “mess of a life,” or in your “well put together life.” He sees you and He loves you! Just as Jesus called this young man to come and follow Him, He’s calling you, He’s calling me because He loves us.
This young man was living a good life, keeping all of God’s commandments. He was a good person. But Jesus looked deeply into this man’s heart and saw the “thing” blocking him from moving from “being just a good person” into an “intimate relationship” with God. So in His loving mercy Jesus revealed that “thing” to this young man. At that moment the young man chose the “thing” instead of Jesus. He walked away from Jesus, feeling sad. Jesus calls us away from anything that we are holding onto as more important than Him. Not because He’s being mean or unfair, but because He sees us and loves us. He knows that we cannot experience the beautiful, intimate life with Him that He has planned for us when there is even one thing held as more important than Him in our hearts.
Each and every time God has called me to give up something so I can move closer to Him, it has been hard and even painful. But every single time, as I’ve given that thing away, the gift, the treasure of intimacy with God I’ve received in return has caused that “thing” I once held so dear to my heart to become like sawdust in my mouth, of no value or worth whatsoever. I’ve been able to see it as the trap it was instead of as the treasure I thought it was. Today, let’s ask God to show us anything that is getting in the way of our intimate relationship with Him.
Today’s Verse
“Teacher,” he declared, “all these (God’s commandments) I have kept since I was a boy.”
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
John 10:20-22
Turning Scripture into Prayer
God I am so grateful that You are able to see all of my hidden stuff, and that You love me in spite of it all. I don’t want to follow the example of the young man in today’s verses. When you show me the “thing” You know I need to give away, help me obey so I can move in closer, and follow You with my whole heart. Now, Jesus I invite You to come and show me if there is something I am holding more dear to my heart than You. (pause and listen) Thank You. Show me how to release this, help me release it, so I can move in closer to You. So I can follow You with my whole, undivided heart. Thank You!
