I learned a valuable lesson. Try not to be the last adult up on an overnight retreat. I am a bit rusty. Most of the overnight retreats our ministry has done has been sleep-away camps. We haven't done a lock-in on campus for a while. The students just didn't want to sleep. Thank goodness I was overwhelmed with spiritual happiness, because my earthly patience was in short supply. Guess it is good practice for an infant!
Must. Stop. Giving. Teenagers. Sugar. Before. Bed!
Day 37
Scripture
Mark 10:17-22
- Before Reading the scripture today; Pray and ask the spirit to guide you in the reading:
- 17 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?”
- 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 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.”
- 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
- 21 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.”
- 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Wisdom
- Jesus did not take it easy on the rich guy. Here he comes saying “what can I do to get to heaven?” and Jesus tells him to sell all of his possessions and follow him. Harsh? I don’t think so. Look at what Jesus is really asking? Jesus isn’t saying that giving up everything will get you to Heaven. What He is saying is that nothing should be holding you back from getting closer to the Father.
- The rich man, though morally good was attached to his worldly possessions as I am sure many of us are. Can we live without our cars, computers, and cell phones? Can we live without nice things? Sure we could, but would you want to? It could even be something deeper; a relationship, a job, a commitment, an activity, anything that you haven’t given up to God.
- Christ asks us to sacrifice everything for Him. Keep in mind, He may not ask you to ever do that, He just wants to know if you are willing and able for Him.
Apply
- What strings are attached to your heart holding you back from getting closer to God?
- Take an inventory of your heart and look at things you cannot live without? Is it a person, a thing, an activity?
Prayer
- Pray that the Lord frees you from the strings that bind you to worldly possessions. Pray; if your heart is ready, that you could be like the disciples who dropped everything to follow Jesus. Thank God for the Grace he gives to you. Ask Him to make a connection with him that is unbreakable.
2 comments:
It's a hard thing to do. Even just giving up one little thing for Lent can be a daily challenge. I wish I was a stronger, better person.
We all do. We are always so grateful when we are provided for and things are well. However when all that is damaged or threatened, we are angry. When asked to voluntarily give something up, we argue and fight. It is really hard. There is a reason we are God's "children", not his adults. LOL!
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