For a full description of the (Y3) reading plan, see the “About” page.
- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Matt. 19
Let go. That is the one simple thing that is required of us to enter into God’s salvation. Yet it is the one thing we seem to have the most difficulty doing. You see, letting go requires faith. We have to wholeheartedly believe in the outcome and fully trust the One behind it. The good news is that, when we open our empty arms to Christ, He fills us with infinitely more than whatever we left behind.
Mark 10
James and John wanted to share in Christ’s glory, sitting on His left and right. Jesus responded, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” (Mk. 10:38). That tells me that in order to share in Christ’s glory, we must also share in His suffering. Paul mentions this as well, saying that we are God’s children and coheirs with Christ, “if in deed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Rom. 8:17b). So much for any thought of the Christian life protecting us from pain and suffering!
The truth is, the Christian walk isn’t easy. If it was, more people would walk it. It makes perfect sense, though, if you think about it. Becoming a Christian is about putting our human nature to death. It involves circumcising, or removing the flesh, from our hearts. Neither of those things sounds pleasant or pain free. Also, as we have seen, following Christ requires us to let go of the things that make us feel happy and secure. We have to confront the great lie, which means we have to confront the great liar. And the great liar doesn’t go down without a fight. The good news is that, though we have to endure the battle, Christ fights it for us, so our victory is guaranteed.
Luke 18:15-43
When the rich man asked what he needed to do to inherit eternal life, Jesus prefaced His answer with a seemingly out of the way comment. He questioned the man’s use of the word, “good” and said, “No one is good except God alone.” (Lk. 18:19b). What did that have to do with the man’s question? Actually, I think it was the answer. If the man had ears to hear, Jesus just told him that there was nothing he could do on his own. He could never be good enough.
What seems like Jesus’ answer, then, is merely His case in point. All those commands the man kept? Nope – not enough. Jesus didn’t tell the man that he needed to give all he had to the poor to be saved because, truthfully, that wouldn’t be enough either. What He told the man is that he needed to let go of his own efforts and his other gods. Only then could Jesus lead him into God’s eternal kingdom.