There is a very interesting story in the book of Mark:
"And when he (Jesus) was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
And he answered and said unto him, Master all these things I have observed from my youth.
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved, for he had many possessions." Mark 10: 17-22.
Do we feel that way in our lives? That we do want to follow Jesus, but are not ready to give up all that we have for God? That our spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak? We may be able to keep the commandments, as Jesus described above, but somehow we do not feel the love for God deep enough to want to give up everything for Him. One of my army mates asked me this question. By giving up everything I do not mean losing everything, but putting God above all that- our friends, our family, our futures.
Do not worry, because it is very natural of humans. Jesus Himself knew this- "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" Mark 10:23. And because most of us quite naturally feel this way, it is not going to be easy in a sense to follow Jesus. It is going to be an act of the will, one that will require substantial effort, not based on feelings. And that is why Jesus said, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." Mark 8: 34-35. His very words "deny himself", "take up his cross" imply that it is not going to be easy, a struggle against our natural desires.
But, hear what Jesus said. After the rich man left the disciples were quite troubled, to put it lightly. "And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith,
With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." Mark 10: 26-27
If you are feeling worried about whether it can ever happen in your life, God says with all certainty to you: with Me, all things are possible! I have experienced it countless times in my own life. When God called me to give up the one person dearest to me, I did not think it possible, I did not know how. But God brought me through, and today in God I am happier than I have ever been.
How, you may ask; what is it that can motivate us to seek Him above all? What is it that can carry us through? The answer is simple- His Love. Day by day I am still coming to understand more and more the depth of His love. He, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, died for YOU. He loves you that much, and more. We don't need anyone to tell us how sinful we are; and yet God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us. And this is no earthly love- it is divine. It is a love stronger, deeper and purer than any you have ever imagined. "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3. Money cannot buy love; but now the greatest love of all is given to us freely. How wonderful! Take a moment to reflect on it.
"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead
And that he died for all, that they which love should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again...
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5: 14-15, 17
Why is it that Jesus said with God it is possible? Simple because all we do is a response to God's love, and His love is so great that it will drive all before it. Other versions of this verse write, " For the love of Christ compels us..." When we come to grasp and understand the depth of God's love, giving up other things will suddenly become so easy. It becomes a very natural response to His love. That was the one thing that brought me through the toughest days- the realization of the depth of God's love, knowing that it is all I would ever need, and knowing that all other things pale in comparison to knowing and pursuing that great love.
And as we walk that path, following after Jesus, we will find that He is more beautiful than we have ever imagined. We will find that it becomes easier and easier to deny the things of the world, and ourselves even, as we grow deeper and deeper in God's love. And we will find that we will be happier than we have ever been, because free from all things that can trap us in this world, we can rest secure in God's love, where we were always meant to be. This is what I want to testify of.
"As the Father hath loved me, so I have loved you; continue ye in my love...
These things I have spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." John 15: 9, 11
Never feel daunted; God understands how weak we are, and will guide us every step of the way. All He desires is a humble and willing heart.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Psalms 51:17. Humble yourself before God and ask for His help, for without it we are nothing. And never, never fear; never, never feel unworthy or unready, for that is precisely how Satan wants us to feel. "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. " 1 John 4:18-19.
At the same time, continue seeking God's ways, obey His commandments, love your neighbours, honour Him in your life. When the choice comes between Him and other things, choose Him. And even when you fail, do not fear, do not be dismayed. Like He said to Israel even after they had disobeyed Him for countless generations, "Fear thou not: for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10. God's right hand refers to Jesus- He has borne all our sins and weaknesses. Remember that with God all things are possible, He will provide everything you need. "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." 2 Peter 1:3
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose" -Jim Elliot
"And when he (Jesus) was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
And he answered and said unto him, Master all these things I have observed from my youth.
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved, for he had many possessions." Mark 10: 17-22.
Do we feel that way in our lives? That we do want to follow Jesus, but are not ready to give up all that we have for God? That our spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak? We may be able to keep the commandments, as Jesus described above, but somehow we do not feel the love for God deep enough to want to give up everything for Him. One of my army mates asked me this question. By giving up everything I do not mean losing everything, but putting God above all that- our friends, our family, our futures.
Do not worry, because it is very natural of humans. Jesus Himself knew this- "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" Mark 10:23. And because most of us quite naturally feel this way, it is not going to be easy in a sense to follow Jesus. It is going to be an act of the will, one that will require substantial effort, not based on feelings. And that is why Jesus said, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." Mark 8: 34-35. His very words "deny himself", "take up his cross" imply that it is not going to be easy, a struggle against our natural desires.
But, hear what Jesus said. After the rich man left the disciples were quite troubled, to put it lightly. "And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith,
With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." Mark 10: 26-27
If you are feeling worried about whether it can ever happen in your life, God says with all certainty to you: with Me, all things are possible! I have experienced it countless times in my own life. When God called me to give up the one person dearest to me, I did not think it possible, I did not know how. But God brought me through, and today in God I am happier than I have ever been.
How, you may ask; what is it that can motivate us to seek Him above all? What is it that can carry us through? The answer is simple- His Love. Day by day I am still coming to understand more and more the depth of His love. He, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, died for YOU. He loves you that much, and more. We don't need anyone to tell us how sinful we are; and yet God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us. And this is no earthly love- it is divine. It is a love stronger, deeper and purer than any you have ever imagined. "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3. Money cannot buy love; but now the greatest love of all is given to us freely. How wonderful! Take a moment to reflect on it.
"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead
And that he died for all, that they which love should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again...
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5: 14-15, 17
Why is it that Jesus said with God it is possible? Simple because all we do is a response to God's love, and His love is so great that it will drive all before it. Other versions of this verse write, " For the love of Christ compels us..." When we come to grasp and understand the depth of God's love, giving up other things will suddenly become so easy. It becomes a very natural response to His love. That was the one thing that brought me through the toughest days- the realization of the depth of God's love, knowing that it is all I would ever need, and knowing that all other things pale in comparison to knowing and pursuing that great love.
And as we walk that path, following after Jesus, we will find that He is more beautiful than we have ever imagined. We will find that it becomes easier and easier to deny the things of the world, and ourselves even, as we grow deeper and deeper in God's love. And we will find that we will be happier than we have ever been, because free from all things that can trap us in this world, we can rest secure in God's love, where we were always meant to be. This is what I want to testify of.
"As the Father hath loved me, so I have loved you; continue ye in my love...
These things I have spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." John 15: 9, 11
Never feel daunted; God understands how weak we are, and will guide us every step of the way. All He desires is a humble and willing heart.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Psalms 51:17. Humble yourself before God and ask for His help, for without it we are nothing. And never, never fear; never, never feel unworthy or unready, for that is precisely how Satan wants us to feel. "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. " 1 John 4:18-19.
At the same time, continue seeking God's ways, obey His commandments, love your neighbours, honour Him in your life. When the choice comes between Him and other things, choose Him. And even when you fail, do not fear, do not be dismayed. Like He said to Israel even after they had disobeyed Him for countless generations, "Fear thou not: for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10. God's right hand refers to Jesus- He has borne all our sins and weaknesses. Remember that with God all things are possible, He will provide everything you need. "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." 2 Peter 1:3
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose" -Jim Elliot
