7/28/12. Luke 18:18-30. TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE-devotional

Luke 18:18-30  Key Verse: 18:27

Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF  Saturday, July 28, 2012

“Jesus replied, ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God.’”

Dear Lord, thank you that you have made going to Uganda possible. Open my eyes to your vision for the world. Help me to find my place in your redemptive work. Lord, I pray that you help guide our family. Help us to find our mission together. Help us to find our life in Jesus together and serve it well. Bless all the people who are receiving the messages at the hospital. May their hearts be touched by the word of God from the study of Judges. Lord, help all of my kids to know Jesus personally and to love Jesus and to serve Jesus willingly. Lord, dwell among us and help us to know you more deeply. Please grant me one word of God to hold onto through this passage. I thank you and I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Part 1: Sell Everything And Follow Jesus (18-23).

Verses 18-23 read, “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.”

A rich ruler knew that his vast wealth could not obtain eternal life. Eternal life could only be given to him. He asked Jesus what to do. After pointing the ruler to God, Jesus emphasized obedience to the law, especially the last six commandments. The ruler said that he had kept them, but he had not fully surrendered everything to God. Jesus told the ruler to sell everything he had, give to the poor, and follow him. The man went away sad because he was trapped by his own wealth.

I can see that we can put on the façade of spirituality. We can also think that our righteous acts are enough to maintain a right relationship with God and ensure our passage into eternal life. We may feel content and spiritual. But we may be deceived. We may, in fact, have failed to surrender ourselves to God. Am I surrendered to God? I do hold onto many aspects of my life for my own selfishness purposes. I am not living in the presence of Jesus and practicing his presence. Do I have a sense of urgency in regards to strengthening my relationship with Jesus? Do I have a sense of problem that people do not have a saving relationship with Jesus? Am I holding onto Jesus and coming to him with all sincerity of heart? Not likely. I need to surrender my life to seek the face of my Savior, Jesus Christ and to serve his will in my life.

What does it mean that I should sell everything I have give to the poor and follow Jesus? Does it mean I have to have a mega garage sale and hand my house over the banks, and walk away from it? Should I give all of my money to charity and then move my family into someone else’s home to live? I don’t think so. I think this means to dedicate all that I have to serve the mission of God in my life. I should dedicate my resources to live for Jesus’ glory, making Jesus known among the people of DeKalb and NIU.

Part 2: Impossible With Man; Possible With God (24-30).

Verses 24-30, “Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, 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.” 26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Money itself is not evil, but its charm is impossible to resist for short-sighted human beings, prone to fall into sin. People will chase after money, even at the cost of their life. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for those who love wealth then to enter the kingdom of God. Who can be saved if a relatively moral, wealth loving person cannot?

Jesus teaches that what is impossible with man is possible with God. Eternal life is the gift of God. By his grace and power, we can surrender all to him. It seems that people here admire Jesus, but few actually surrender their lives to him. How can we share the Gospel with a young generation that seems ambivalent to Gospel, to Christians who love the world and who like non-Christians more than Christians? To a young generation of Christians who would rather go to a club, party, or a movie, more than going to church? How do we reach a people who seldom want to make time, even to drink a coffee together with a servant of God? How can one build a church that is effective in penetrating the culture around them? How? Nothing is impossible with God.

Who can give me a joyful spirit and victorious spirit in the face of any adversity? Who can make family members love one another and want to spend time together, especially time together in the Lord and serving God together? Who can change the hearts of relatives whom we have been praying for years? Nothing is impossible with God. It can happen by the power of God.

Jesus promises to bless those who leave everything to follow him. Verses 29-30 read, “29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” It is indeed a blessing to give our all to Jesus. We are being blessed by God and will continue to be blessed by God. Ultimately we will have eternal life in the Kingdom of God and the forgiveness and grace of Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the promise of eternal life. Help me to leave everything to follow Jesus.

One Word: Devote ourselves to the Lord and follow Jesus