God’s promise for Week 4:
“My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:19
For those who want further Scripture reading each day here are a couple of suggestions:
-Read one Psalm a day and meditate on it.
-Read a chapter or part of a chapter out of Acts or Matthew or Hebrews each day, focusing on the idea of faith.
Day 24
“Use your worldly resources to benefit others…in this way, your generosity stores up a reward for you in heaven." Luke 16:9
Remember the story of the rich young man who asked Jesus what he must do to follow him? Jesus’ answer to him is one verse many of us like to skim over: "If you want to give it all you've got," Jesus replied, "go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me." (Matt 19:21 MSG)
I have heard a lot of discussion about this verse over the years, most of them going something like this: “Jesus was just saying that to him; it certainly doesn’t mean that I have to sell what I own and give it to the poor." This response usually causes everyone to breathe a collective sigh of relief as they go back to life as usual. I think that Jesus was speaking directly to the heart of that young man, but that fact in no way lets us off the hook. Jesus’ words devastated that man, because he wanted to hear that he could just do some more good things and that would be enough to qualify him as a follower of Jesus. “That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn't bear to let go." (Matt 19:22-23 MSG) Aren’t we often like this? We want ‘following Jesus’ to mean simply adding some good works on top of the other things in our lives. We want ‘following Jesus’ to mean that we don’t have to give anything up. If Jesus were to speak directly to your heart today, what would He say you are holding on too tightly to? Money? Material possessions? Comfort? Security? What Jesus wants is not for us just to do a bunch of good things: "Why do you question me about what's good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you." (Matt 19:17) Clearly, he wants obedience to what God is telling us to do, regardless of the cost. But it is hard isn’t it? I talked this week to a very dear, godly friend about the suffering of Christians in China. We talked about the unimaginable pain some of them face in the name of Jesus. She shared with me that when she was first faced with the reality of this suffering, it broke her heart as she realized that if Jesus were to ask this of her, she would not be willing. Would any of us, in our human reasoning, be willing? The ending to the story of the rich young man brings hope to all of us who feel weak and helpless and afraid and unwilling: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matt19:26). We serve a God who can do anything, and who has done everything for us. Let’s have the courage to ask what God requires of us, and the faith to believe that He will help us obey.
Prayer:
God, I am afraid you will ask too much of me. Help me to know that you will not test me beyond what I can bear.
In Faith:
Don’t stop praying for your “hopeless cases!"
