June 12 - 14, 2012
We often hear the story of how Jesus welcomed children. "Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people who are like these children."
When we read and hear these stories we often think of "children" in the sense of the age of the child. When Jesus refers to the kingdom of heaven belonging "to people who are like these children" I don't believe He is just talking about age. He is talking about child-like attributes.
Jesus wants us—all of us. Not our abilities; not our strength; not our plans. Just us. Simply all of us. When He has that THEN He can work in us, through us, and with us, to bring about HIS will for our lives.
We often hear the story of how Jesus welcomed children. "Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people who are like these children."
When we read and hear these stories we often think of "children" in the sense of the age of the child. When Jesus refers to the kingdom of heaven belonging "to people who are like these children" I don't believe He is just talking about age. He is talking about child-like attributes.
- Innocent
- Trusting
- Wanting to learn
- Dependent upon
- Childlike humility
- Faith
- Eagerness
God
↓
Man/Child.
Jesus wants us—all of us. Not our abilities; not our strength; not our plans. Just us. Simply all of us. When He has that THEN He can work in us, through us, and with us, to bring about HIS will for our lives.
A rich young man goes to Jesus and asks what He must do to have eternal life. Jesus responds that He must obey the commands. The rich man asks "Which ones"? How is that for a non-committal answer/question? Which ones? How about all of them? There are ten of them!! Jesus' answer is quite interesting. He lists six of them, Commandments 5–10. He left out the first four for a reason. The rich man replied, "I have obeyed all these things. What else do I need to do?"
The rich man was a good man. He was upright, moral, and honest man—all good things. But there was one thing he was not. He was not a man who was surrendered to God. So when he asked what else he needed to do, Jesus responded by showing him what his problem was, Commandments 1–4 of the Ten Commandments. It is not enough to be a "good" person. We must be a Godly person.
The rich man was a good man. He was upright, moral, and honest man—all good things. But there was one thing he was not. He was not a man who was surrendered to God. So when he asked what else he needed to do, Jesus responded by showing him what his problem was, Commandments 1–4 of the Ten Commandments. It is not enough to be a "good" person. We must be a Godly person.
Jesus told him if he wanted to be perfect he must go and sell his possessions and give the money to the poor. This really wasn't about money. It was about the root of the problem, which was the disobedience of the commandments that deal entirely with a heart surrendered to God. Jesus was in effect asking him, "Are you willing to give up your self reliance, your self effort, your need for self control, and your self made riches?" I know you are a good man. But, are you willing to surrender everything you think you are in control of to me?
There was a reason why the rich man asked which commandments he needed to obey. There is a reason why Jesus separated the commandments when He answered him. You can be a good person and obey Commandments 5–10 with self effort and still not obey Commandments 1–4. But, being a "good" person is not enough.
The Kingdom of Heaven (Salvation) is only obtained by obedience to Commandments 1 through 4. When 1–4 (the "vertical" commandments that deal with our relationship to God) are obeyed then 5–10 (the "horizontal" commandments that deal with our relationship with fellow man) are automatically followed and obeyed. Jesus was pointing out to the rich man what the root of the problem was—the letter "I." What must "I" do to be saved. God doesn't want our self-effort. What He wants is our surrendered self. Sadly, the rich man was not willing to give up his self-reliance and become God-reliant. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:23) Not because of the money itself. No, it's because of what having wealth tends to do, which is make you feel self-reliant.
When you don't need any thing you don't need any One, and it is easy to become or remain self-reliant instead of learning to trust God and become God-reliant. It becomes all about "me" and what "I" want instead of about God and what HE wants. It's p.r.I.d.e, with a capital "I." It's breaking the first commandment of no other gods before God or in addition to God. (Exodus 20:3, 23) You have to be willing to give all and leave all.
"And all those who have left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or farms to follow me will get much more than they left, and they will have life forever. Many who have the highest place now will have the lowest place in the future. And many who have the lowest place now will have the highest place in the future." (Matthew 19:29-30)
I surrender ALL.
Next Entry: STOP! Turn Around! GO BACK!
There was a reason why the rich man asked which commandments he needed to obey. There is a reason why Jesus separated the commandments when He answered him. You can be a good person and obey Commandments 5–10 with self effort and still not obey Commandments 1–4. But, being a "good" person is not enough.
The Kingdom of Heaven (Salvation) is only obtained by obedience to Commandments 1 through 4. When 1–4 (the "vertical" commandments that deal with our relationship to God) are obeyed then 5–10 (the "horizontal" commandments that deal with our relationship with fellow man) are automatically followed and obeyed. Jesus was pointing out to the rich man what the root of the problem was—the letter "I." What must "I" do to be saved. God doesn't want our self-effort. What He wants is our surrendered self. Sadly, the rich man was not willing to give up his self-reliance and become God-reliant. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:23) Not because of the money itself. No, it's because of what having wealth tends to do, which is make you feel self-reliant.
When you don't need any thing you don't need any One, and it is easy to become or remain self-reliant instead of learning to trust God and become God-reliant. It becomes all about "me" and what "I" want instead of about God and what HE wants. It's p.r.I.d.e, with a capital "I." It's breaking the first commandment of no other gods before God or in addition to God. (Exodus 20:3, 23) You have to be willing to give all and leave all.
"And all those who have left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or farms to follow me will get much more than they left, and they will have life forever. Many who have the highest place now will have the lowest place in the future. And many who have the lowest place now will have the highest place in the future." (Matthew 19:29-30)
I surrender ALL.
Next Entry: STOP! Turn Around! GO BACK!
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