Scripture: Matthew 19:13–20:19
Observation: In our passage today we continue to see Jesus
on his final journey to the cross. Jesus
tells his disciples (chapter 20) for the third time what is about to take place
in Jerusalem.
Have you ever been around someone who
is about to leave a job or position? Or
perhaps you are a mom and there was a time you were about to leave your child
with a new person who would watch or babysit your child. What usually happens in these types of
situations? The employee or the mom
usually starts listing off important things for the person who will be in
charge to know.
This is what Jesus was doing
here. He was using every opportunity to
teach people important lessons about His kingdom. In the first part of our reading today we see
a rich young ruler coming to ask Jesus about eternal life. The rich young ruler thought that by doing
enough good things that he could please Jesus, but Jesus never asks us to do –
He asks us to TRUST. These are two very
different concepts. Our human efforts
will never be enough. If we want to “get
to Jesus” through our own efforts – it will NEVER be enough. The Good News however is this: We don’t have to put forth any great
effort! God loves us and all that He
wants from us is a relationship built on trusting Him and following Him. The problem is that for some of us, like
myself, it’s easier to do sometimes than to trust and obey, right?
You see trusting involves giving up
some of that control and saying, “God it is in Your hands”, and then leaving it
there! Trusting means I will do the
simple things He shows me to do even when I don’t understand why I am to do
those things. He has more vision than we
do. He sees the end and around the
corners and bends – things we cannot or do not see.
The rich young ruler unfortunately
went away sad. He placed a greater
importance in the things he could hold in his hand.
Jesus demands much, but it doesn’t
mean it is too hard. Trusting Jesus is
not always easy, but there are so many joys and blessings that come from that
child-like trust. Prayers that we see
answered in AMAZING ways! With Jesus
there are unexpected blessings, provisions, not to mention the unexplainable
peace or joy you feel in situations where the world would tell you there should
be unrest.
Application: Salvation is such a beautiful gift of
God. How have you experienced His grace
in your own life? Think about (and
comment if you would like to) about a time when you trusted Him instead of your
own efforts and got to experience Jesus in a deeper way. Remember God does not deal with people based
on wealth (or lack thereof) or on who or what society calls “important”. God’s ways are not the same as the world’s
ways and God does not deal with us as we deserve. This passage reminds us that He is a very
gracious and loving God! But He did not
just “talk the talk”, he demonstrated it with His actions on the cross. Jesus told His disciples of the things to
come. He explained that it was going to
be hard, not because He wanted sympathy, but because He wanted them to
understand that to be a follower of God meant that sometimes things would be
hard, but 20:19 says there is also a great reward!
Prayer: Father God in Heaven, Holy is Your Name! We pray Lord that YOUR Kingdom would come and
that YOUR will would be done here on this earth as it is in Heaven. Father, I pray for each one reading and
studying your Word today that You would encourage them with the Good News that
their reward is coming! You are coming
again soon Lord and we will see that reward if we will remain faithful
(Galatians 6:9). May we trust You
completely and follow You always.
Through Christ our Great and Faithful Example I pray, Amen & Amen.
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