Good Morning Friends,
Well if you are like me on this Fat Tuesday I am enjoying life but also taking stock of my life for I am in the process of putting all my tax documents together to take to the CPA to prepare my tax filings for last year. On those things sold in my accounts for a profit I will have to pay taxes. Selling everything and giving it to the poor is not such an easy thing. Those multibillionaires who give half of their wealth away are to be praised but Jesus asks the rich, young ruler to do more than this and perhaps us as well. Following His encounter with the rich, young ruler, Jesus discussed the difficulty of salvation for those distracted by pleasures. The topic, as people around the world prepare for a party, is about whether we are venturing to create something that eventually will pay eternal dividends. So, How Are You Investing Your Life?
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: Being Holy on Fat Tuesday may not be so easy, but it does set the stage for Lent. During Lent the Lord works from the inside out while on Fat Tuesday the world is working from 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 the 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. The best investment is in yourself and others 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 thing about life is not what is typically advertised in the world. The thing is that those who know Christ become rich and joyous beyond measure. This is the best investment you can make. And if you share this with others it only multiplies the more.
And So, maybe you have recently been saved and discovered that 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. Whether we are alone or surrounded by friends…give us Jesus. He is more than enough not just for the future but at this very moment. If we believe, Christ provides a return on investment that pays a healthy dividend with new mercies each and every day. But we need to invest wisely and regularly in prayer and devotion to scripture and the things Jesus taught us to do. We are all to be making an investment in eternity as we live this life. Those investments will soon 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. And that includes investing in yourself too.
Pray we are investing in the Christian life…in a love that lasts. Pray that 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 that we keep believing, keep investing and keep loving people into life. Pray we experience the fullness of God’s living hope. Pray that we rejoice when disciples are made and multiplied!! Pray we be children of God realizing that with God all things are possible.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 