TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Mark 10:21b-22
Read: Mark 10:17-29
Listen: Mark 10
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, where he will die, when a man runs to him and falls at his feet. He asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” then self-righteously says he’s kept God’s commands his whole life (a key word to star). Yet here he is, asking what else he must do. Jesus sees his heart and tells him to sell his earthly wealth, give it to the poor and follow him. Jesus is calling this man to a cross-shaped life, but the man just can’t do it. He wants eternity but won’t sacrifice the status and comfort of his wealth to follow Jesus.
It’s ironic that Jesus is on the way to his death and invites the rich man to follow. This man is so shaped by his possessions that giving up his wealth and identity would be like dying. We are not so different. It could be our money, beauty, personality, education and even ministry that gets in the way of living humbly and sacrificially. To live the kingdom life, we must be willing to give up our selfish desires and follow Jesus with a cross-shaped identity. To experience the resurrected life, self-made identities need to die.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Ask God to help you discern if your identity lies in your career, family name, degrees, ministry or anything else. When you see what competes with Jesus—lay it his feet and ask him to help you sacrifice that to follow him humbly.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
