Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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JESUS LOOKED AT HIM AND LOVED HIM

Mark 10:17-22
 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.”(V.21)
One of the most difficult struggles in my life and the sin that I constantly wrestle with is my difficulty to love those I don’t like. This may be an unadvisable admission, especially in a devotional which may be read by so many across the diocese, but unfortunately it’s the truth. I constantly have to remind myself that I have to show the same grace shown to me by the Lord; to all those I come across…even those I don’t necessarily like.
Doing something for an inheritance? In Mark 10: 17-22 is the story of the Rich Young Man (RYM) who seeks out salvation from Jesus. Initially RYM demonstrates the audacity to ask Jesus what he can do to “inherit” eternal life. It is as if it’s something that should simply be handed to him as any inheritance he may receive from parents or family members. This statement itself is quite contradictory. You never can really do anything to obtain an inheritance. An inheritance is often left to you by parents simply because you are their child and the truth is heirs often have no say in the matter. In some cases however, parents may leave a greater amount of money or property to one child over another.

Claiming that he was doing everything perfect: RYM even has the nerve to look Jesus, the King of Kings right in the eye and lie to him by saying he has never committed any of the sins asked of him by Jesus. RYM doesn’t simply say it, but “declares” that he has kept the commandments since he was a boy. He becomes an example of a self- righteous man. He was justifying his past as well as his present actions and still anxious about the future!

Unconditional Love of Jesus: Jesus knew the greatest sin in the life of RYM was his love of money and his idolatry of wealth, just as He knows my sinful struggle, but yet Jesus “loved him” and loves me. He offers a grace, which we too often are not willing to show or give to others who openly and outwardly sin and knowingly do wrong. Unless we can truly accept that grace as a lifesaving blessing unearned and undeserved but given to us, we too will not be able to provide that blessing to anyone else. This is a maturity that we should constantly be striving for, from the moment we accept Christ as our Savior regardless of being a youth, adult or elderly. RYM was “loved” and I’d like to believe he eventually came back to Jesus because of that amazing grace.

Prayer: “Dear Jesus, we thank you for Your amazing grace which saves wretches like us. Continue to remind us that regardless of deepest and darkest sins, You will always love and Your grace will always abound. AMEN.”

Dr. Ron & Sarah Jacob, Long Island MTC, New York





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