One word that has been consistently jumping out at me
recently is “surrender”. It’s something that we tend to desire and discuss
without actually doing. Despite our nonchalance on the issue, it is anything
but trivial. We don’t inherit eternal life without it.
Jesus
goes
too
far
According to our acceptance of easy believism and cheap
grace, there are times in Scripture when Jesus simply gets out of line. He goes
too far. A perfect example of this is when the rich, young ruler approaches Him
wanting to know what to do to inherit eternal life. “Just believe in me, and
you’re good to go!” is what Jesus should have said. Instead, He exposes this man’s
idol—his wealth—and tells him he has to surrender it before doing anything
else.
the
overlooked
portion
We all know this story (found in Mark 10: 17-22), but you
may have overlooked a tiny little portion like I had. Before Jesus told him
that his obedience to the commands wasn’t good enough and that he had to go
home, sell all his stuff, and give to the poor, there is a little portion that
changed this whole story and gave it new life for me.
this
is
eternal
life
“Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him….”
(v. 21)—“loved him”! He wasn’t condemning this man or shaming him. He wanted to
reveal to this man what was hindering him from truly inheriting eternal life.
Eternal life isn’t just Heaven—it’s knowing Jesus! This is evidenced in John
17:3: “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and
Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
the
big
idea
That is the big idea. Knowing God and knowing the truth
requires surrender. There’s no way around it, and without it, we will be
restless, unsatisfied, and unfulfilled in our existence.
“Truth is God himself who cannot be known apart from love
and cannot be loved apart from surrender to his will.” Thomas Merton
Great thoghts, thank you for the morning devotions!B-)
ReplyDeleteGreat thoghts, thank you for the morning devotions!B-)
ReplyDeleteWow, well written!!
ReplyDeleteHoratius Bonar 1861
ReplyDeleteNot what my hands have done can save my guilty soul;
Not what my toiling flesh has borne can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do can give me peace with God;
Not all my prayers and sighs and tears can bear my awful load.
Your voice alone, O Lord, can speak to me of grace;
Your power alone, O Son of God, can all my sin erase.
No other work but Yours, no other blood will do;
No strength but that which is divine can bear me safely through.
Thy work alone, O Christ, can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God, can give me peace within.
Thy love to me, O God, not mine, O Lord, to Thee,
Can rid me of this dark unrest, And set my spirit free.
I bless the Christ of God; I rest on love divine;
And with unfaltering lip and heart I call this Savior mine.
His cross dispels each doubt; I bury in His tomb
Each thought of unbelief and fear, each lingering shade of gloom.
I praise the God of grace; I trust His truth and might;
He calls me His, I call Him mine, My God, my joy and light.
’Tis He Who saveth me, and freely pardon gives;
I love because He loveth me, I live because He lives.
Keep writing and thinking and walking with Him.
Praying for your ministry there in Slovakia.
Esther Meisel