Good Morning Friends,
Following His encounter with the rich, young ruler, Jesus discussed the difficulty of salvation for those distracted by pleasures. The topic is about whether we are venturing to create something that eventually will pay eternal dividends. So, How Are We Investing Our Lives?
Scripture: Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours made careful search and inquiry, inquiring about the person or time that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent glory. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look! Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:10-16 (NRSV)
As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 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.” They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”
Mark 10:17-27 (NRSV)
Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
Mark 10:28-31 (NRSV)
Message: The Lord works from the inside out while the world works for the outside in. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human behavior. Through hope, holiness, wisdom and love, God has given us the One way to receive the power to change, the One way to have victory over sin in our lives. And in the trials, we are to realize that being joyous is always better than whining. Friends, the Christian life might not always be easy, but it is better than all the alternatives. So, trust in a future you cannot see. Believe in what cannot be found by human effort. And have faith in the hope of our salvation that moves us to respond moment by moment now. The best investment is often in yourself and others around you and the best way to grow that investment is to have Jesus nurturing it. Many today seek the riches of this life. And really there is nothing wrong with enjoying life, but most of those things will not matter much if at all in eternity. Friends we are to have life and have it abundantly, but the best of life is not what is typically advertised in the world. The thing is that those who know Christ become rich and joyous beyond measure.
And So, whether I am alone or surrounded by friends…
give me Jesus. This world offers nothing that compares to the blessing and assurance of experiencing God’s love and being saved by the divine grace of Christ. But this is not something to be experienced in the sweet by and by. It is available now. If you have Jesus, you have all you need. He is more than enough not just for the future but in this very moment. If we believe, Christ provides a return on investment that pays a healthy dividend. But we need to invest wisely and regularly. We are all to be making an investment in eternity as we live this life. Those investments will soon enough pay dividends. Be persistent and devoted. I urge you to start investing not just in your future with Christ but in all your relationships now.
Pray we are investing in the Christian life. Pray our devotion and commitment is directed by the Holy Spirit on the upward journey. Pray that whether we are on the mountain top or in the valley’s shadow, we have a living hope grounded in God’s mercy. Pray that even though we are sinners God has begotten us again, so we might have a life beyond what our physical births can give…beyond even the mountaintop we see before us. Pray we have confidence in a personal resurrection and restoration as members of the Kingdom of God. Pray we realize that we have been redeemed by the precious atoning blood of Jesus Christ and are heirs of God to this inheritance. Pray we keep believing, keep investing and keep loving people into life. Pray we experience the fullness of God’s living hope. Pray we rejoice!!
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 