Instruction
Scripture: Mark 10:17-22
In the verses just prior to this reading, Jesus welcomes
little children stating that the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. In
this passage, He rebuffs a young man who wants to follow Him, but is too
attached to his wealth. The reading makes us consider our own connections to
the world and to consider what it means for us to follow Jesus, it also reminds
us that Jesus loves us even when we are in error, for it says He looked at the
young man and loved him.
Teaching
“What must I do to inherit eternal life?” This is a question
that has been asked for time out of memory. Many people have tried to solve the
question by doing good works, praying multiple times a day, making great
sacrifices, and even dabbling in occult practices. Jesus’ answer seems to point
the young man in that direction; “You know the commandments ….” But when the
young man states that he has done all these things, Jesus pointed out where his
sin was: his connection to the things of this world.
Jesus knows that the young man has not kept the
commandments, but He still looks on him and loves him. Jesus loves sinners. He
is patient with us even as He confronts our sin and calls us to follow Him.
Life
How often do we ask the question, “What must I do to inherit
eternal life?” There is often a piece of us that longs to be able to receive
eternal life as a reward for the things we have done. But notice that word inherit.
How does one inherit
anything? Generally an inheritance is something we receive because someone else
died and passed it on to us. So, how do we inherit eternal life? We inherit it
because Jesus has given it to us by dying for us because we did not keep the
commandments, and now He calls us to follow Him because He has secured our
eternal life for us.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You loved the young man when he claimed to have
kept the commandments. You love sinners and You are patient with us to lead us
to repentance. You confront our sin and help us to know where we fall short of
Your will and God’s Word.
Thank You for loving the young man, and thank You for loving
us when we believe we have done what is necessary to inherit eternal life.
Indeed, we thank You for securing eternal life for us by Your own death and
resurrection. Thank You for showing us our sin so that we may know how great
Your forgiveness is.
Forgive us for thinking we can somehow inherit what You so
freely give to those who follow You. Forgive us for deluding ourselves into
thinking that we do what Your Father commands. And please forgive us for the
times that we love the things of this world more than the eternal life You have
given us.
Lord Jesus, please send us Your Holy Spirit to help us to
know the Commandments and to live according to them, but help us to have set in
our hearts that we keep the Father’s commands because we have inherited eternal
life through Your death and resurrection, and that we do not (cannot!) do
anything to gain eternal life. Help us to see the things that keep us from
following You and lead us to remove them from our lives. Grant that we receive
the treasure of heaven and that we would follow You. Amen.
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