It's Me Again God 2

111. Treasure in Heaven

It's me again God,

Thank You my Father for Your amazing love and for the blessings of this past day. More and more I see how You made us for relationship, firstly with You and also with each other. Thank You that we can see the way Jesus related to people and would take His disciples aside, away from the crowds to spend time with them.  How amazing it must have been to hear each word and watch Jesus' interaction with the crowds that followed! There was always something new to learn —always surprising revelations and perhaps things they hadn't considered before, like this encounter with a rich man:

"As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.' " "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Then Peter spoke up, "We have left everything to follow you!" "Truly I tell you," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.""
‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:17-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The first thing I noticed here was that the man realised straight away that Jesus was the 'good teacher' and bowed down in His presence, perhaps realising that Your Son was very different to all the teachers of the law. He recognised Your lordship Jesus and deeply desired to have life with You forever.

It appears that this man had lived a life in awe of You Father God, having kept the commandments since being a child. Jesus, You knew him well and I am so touched by the way Mark records that You looked at him and loved him! This reminds me that this is Your attitude toward all of mankind! Thank You for loving me so much that You would die on the cross for me!

I can't help but feel so sorry for the man as he hears Your instruction to sell everything he had and give it to the poor.  He surely was ready to make some sort of sacrifice for You but giving away all he had worked hard for all his life, must have seemed a huge price to pay! While he went away sad as he contemplated what it would be like to give everything up for You, we don't actually hear the rest of the story. Did he let Your Words sink in and finally give up all he had at some time in the future? I like to think that he may have because anything is possible —You loved him so much and he loved You too! I love how You say that all things are possible with God! Although it is harder for the rich to realise their great need for You when they are so self sufficient, You do draw rich people to You! It is so good to have material blessings but You call us to seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness!

Peter's declaration that he and the other disciples had left everything to follow You, are followed by words that provide us with a wonderful promise! Whatever I give up for the sake of the gospel, it will be replaced a hundred times over in this life but eternal life also awaits, which is an even greater reward! Things are so different with You! Those who seem to be really making it in this life and coming out first are not necessarily going to always be first! The meek shall inherit the earth!

Lord may I not hold tightly onto the things of this world. Speak to me more about this today and may I be ready to freely give up the things You have allowed me to have so that others may enter Your Kingdom too! All I have belongs to You! I want my treasure to be in heaven as I follow You all the days of my life!

For Your glory,
Amen.