Skip to main content

take up your cross...

Mark 10:21
"Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me."

"LOVED HIM"
Beholding this person who came forward from the crowd wanting to join the ranks of Jesus and His Disciples! He started out GREAT; running up, in a culture where ONLY walking was dignified. Then kneeling as to worship and praise the one true King! He asked Jesus; "GOOD Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" Like many people today who want to know what can "I" do? We feel we can earn eternal life, after all "I" deserve it!!!

Jesus has a lesson planned for this young man and the rest of us looking on. Jesus asked about this young man knowing the Ten Commandments. The young man not only knows them, he has kept them! This poor person seems unaware of his own nature. He seems to even think he is "GOOD." Unfortunately, many of us go through life believing the same kind of thing; we are good. But, are we really?

Jesus knows the heart of this person, Jesus knows He is about to reveal a difficult truth to this prospective follower; "...said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, TAKE UP the CROSS, and follow me." The odds that this person kept the Commandments are zero. Jesus is generous in his assessment with him and saying there is one thing he lacks. We can see ourselves in the person's place, we all lack one thing; sell everything you have, give it to the poor. Then we can TAKE UP our CROSS, and follow Jesus. It's not easy. Very few of us will be able to do this.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I will make you

Matthew 4:19&20 "19 And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him." In our "Follow Me" series, we study Jesus calling His disciples in the Gospel of Matthew. By the Sea of Galilee, a thriving fishing hub, Jesus saw Simon and Andrew casting nets as humble fishermen. His disciples were ordinary workers, not wealthy or educated elites. Jesus approached them and said, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Remarkably, they immediately left their jobs to follow Him. This brief exchange conveys a profound truth: Jesus says, "I will make you." Only God can transform us to accomplish His purpose. We should often pray, "Help me, God," seeking Jesus' guidance to follow His plan for our lives.
Post a Comment
Read more

God’s patience

2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." God did not immediately punish King Solomon when he allowed his foreign wives to build altars for false gods. Despite multiple compromises, God remained patient. Over time, Solomon’s endorsement of idolatry defied God’s covenant, leading to divine judgment, including the loss of the kingdom for his son. Some mistake God’s patience for indifference or inaction, but He follows His plan in His timing. If our nation, culture, church, or we ourselves stray like Solomon, we can repent and return to God’s path. And, should do so sooner than later! Amen!
Post a Comment
Read more

we also...

Romans 6:3&4 "3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." In our studies we are striving to understand God’s love and care. God's unconditional love for His followers, appreciating that we are part of GOD’S family! God is with us from cradle to grave. His divine presence is always giving us purpose and guidance. One of the most important milestones in the life of a Christian is baptism. When we are baptized, an indelible mark is made on our soul. This mark signifies a permanent transformation and dedication of the individual to God. The act of Baptism involves water and the invocation of the Holy Trinity. This ritual is seen as a symbolic washing away of original sin and a new birth into the life of Christ. Baptism is a foundational s...
Post a Comment
Read more