WATCHWORD:
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16
18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’ ” 21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he 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 18:18-23
Meditation:
Let Go!
I recall a story I read in Our Daily Bread about a missionary couple living in West Africa who developed a strong friendship with a man and shared the love of Jesus and the story of salvation with him. Their friend had a lifetime of allegiance to another belief and was a leader in his faith. With sadness, he explained, “I’m like a man fishing with his hands in the stream, who caught a small fish in one hand, but a bigger fish is swimming by, and to catch the bigger one, he had to let go of the smaller one.”
I remember reading that and thinking how much of Jesus’ teachings speak to putting aside our old self in order to fully embrace a life in Christ. I think about the rich young ruler who seemingly walked away from the key to eternal life because he was wealthy, or Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus about being born-again.
Accepting Christ or being born again, by its very nature, requires us to let go of our old self, our old thinking and our own way of living life. Our priorities change, realign with our faith, and we step out as a new person. In essence, we are letting go of the smaller fish, our old life, in order to embrace the bigger fish, a life in Christ.
The transition that we have gone through in our commitment to Christ is much easier to describe in words, then it is to live it. In Paul’s missionary work with the Galatians he ran into Judaizers who said that embracing Christ alone, as a faith, was “too easy”. The idea of faith based on Christ alone was so contrary to the Jewish faith, with their array of laws that must be obeyed. Embracing Christ alone? Bah, too easy?
Think about this: When you first truly believed and practiced your faith, was it easy to embrace Christ and walk with him moment by moment through each day? How about turning our backs to those things that are contrary to what we know Christ would have us do? Was that easy? Speaking up and defending the defense-less, was that easy? No, it is not easy and it takes the courage we receive by holding on to the Savior’s hand.
I had a strong Christian friend, who is now with Christ, who, when speaking of his faith, would, in all candor, say, “You mean that which I often backslide from?” Maybe that is the answer to the “easy” matter of the questions. We try to follow. We try to make choices that honor our Lord. Sometimes we succeed, and sometimes we ‘backslide’. Then, do you return to the flock which Jesus is shepherding? Yes. Why? Because Jesus is the one that is a constant and that gives me peace.
I think about something that Spurgeon, or Chambers, or Calvin, or one of those guys said: “I give it all to Him, including my imperfect faith.” That is like our imperfect perfection that allows us to leg go, and to let God take charge, even when we fall short. He is ours and we are His. That is peace, God’s peace. Amen.
Bulletin Board:
A rabbi was always teaching his followers to seek the answers in themselves. But the followers always came back expecting more answers from him. Finally, he set up a booth with the sign: “Any two questions answered for $100.” After some deliberation, one of his richest followers decided to ask and brought two important questions. As he paid the money, he asked, “Isn’t $100 rather costly for just two questions?” “Yes, it is,” replied the rabbi, “and what is your second question.”
Closing Prayers:
Ten single-sentence prayers from C.W. Spurgeon
Lord, help my heart be blameless toward You. Amen.
Lord, remind me how Your grace is sufficient in my weakness. Amen.
Lord, remind me how You are my refuge and strength at all times. Amen.
Lord, remind me of Your strengthening presence. Amen.
Lord, help me seek You at all times. Amen.
Lord, restore my hope and joy in You. Amen.
Help me to pray in this trying time. Amen.
Strengthen me with Your Word! Amen.
Help me battle in Your strength and understanding, not my own. Amen.
Strengthen me by Your Spirit to know the love of Christ and be filled with Your fullness. Amen.
