iBelin

Mark 10:17-31 (NLT)
17 As he was starting out on a trip, a man came running up to Jesus, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what should I do to get eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But as for your question, you know the commandments: ‘Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not testify falsely. Do not cheat. Honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was a child.” 21 Jesus felt genuine love for this man as he looked at him. “You lack only one thing,” he told him. “Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this, the man’s face fell, and he went sadly away because he had many possessions. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for rich people to get into the Kingdom of God!” 24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to get into the Kingdom of God. 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” 26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” 28 Then Peter began to mention all that he and the other disciples had left behind. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. 29 And Jesus replied, “I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return, a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property – with persecutions. And in the world to come they will have eternal life. 31 But many who seem to be important now will be the least important then, and those who are considered least here will be the greatest then.

“The best is bought only at the cost of great pain.” A quote from The Thorn Birds television mini-series by a young ambitious Roman Catholic priest named Father Ralph de Bricassart, struggling between his love for the Catholic Church and his love for Meggie Cleary. For Father Ralph, loving Meggie was always too great a sacrifice! At 69 Father Ralph dies still longing for, but never having enjoyed the fulfillment of relationship with the women that he truly adored.

In verse 21 Jesus tells the rich young ruler “Go and sell all you have”, but he goes away sad because the sacrifice toward whole-hearted service was too great! You may be thinking that you have already given God your very best. Nevertheless, Jesus is asking for that one thing which may not be a sin, but when sacrificed will leave such a hallow void within you that only the Holy Spirit’s comfort will be sufficient enough to fulfill.

The Lenten Season requires sacrifice that will always cost more. Remember that with God all things are possible. Therefore, in prayer decide today to let go of that one thing which could cause you to miss out on the promise of God’s blessing both now and for all eternity.

The hymnologist writes:
Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?
Your heart does the Spirit control?
You can only be blest,
and have peace and sweet rest,
as you yield Him your body and soul.

Daphney Gwynn
Baltimore, Maryland

**During Lent and Holy Week, devotional writings will be posted by Facebook and Twitter friends who are praying and fasting together in a Daniel Fast. Read more about this “Journey to the Heart of God by clicking here.

Posted on: March 25th, 2010 in: LENT, Lent Devotional