WATCHWORD:
21 All these I have kept since I was a boy,” the young ruler said. 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Luke 18:21-23
Here’s the knowledge you need: you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. And you will be My witnesses, first here in Jerusalem, then beyond to Judea and Samaria, and finally to the farthest places on earth. Acts 1:8 The Voice
Meditation:
KISS: Witness
Keep It Simple Saint, you have power! Witness!
Read again the Luke and Acts passages. If the rich young ruler knew he would ‘receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you’, do you think he might have had a few followup questions for Jesus?
Disciples do leave much of their lives behind when we follow Jesus. Does that s,ound like sell all we have, give to the poor, and catch the first boat to a third world country? Is that what the Lord is asking you, His disciple, to do? Is that what we’re supposed to do? The rich young ruler went away sad when he was told the same thing. How about you?
I don’t think that’s what Jesus was asking us to do at all. I think we need to translate into modern speak. When we are committed to Christ, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. That will change things for us, each moment of every day, wherever you are, and whoever you interact with. Understand that and rely on the Holy Spirit. Keep It Simple Saint, you have power to witness the Lord in your living. The ‘sell all’ thing has to do with the idols we set up, sometime without our thinking, that distract us from the will of God. Get rid of that stuff.
In our personal lives we bring the image of Christ into our workplace, into our homes, into our interacting with children and grandchildren, or, in all of your interactions with others. When we take on the image of Christ into the streets of our lives, it indeed does affect how others view us, how we interact with others, showing love, compassion, in other words, demonstrating the character of Christ.
Are you ready for that? You know disciples in third-world countries are doing the same thing. Because of language, sometimes their words have no meaning for those in need, but their actions, their demeanor, their love speaks volumes. We can do the same thing — we can bloom where we are planted. When all else fails, use your words. Amen.
Prayer for Wisdom and Strength:
Heavenly father, I pray that you will dispel the confusion that sometimes dims your word, and give me clarity of purpose to share with others the witness of your light through your words. Help me to bear your word as a lamp unto all. Precious savior, guide me through the darkness that too often surrounds and let me be a beacon of the light of your love and your graces for all. In Jesus’ name. Amen
