Daily Reading
Daily Thought
A rich man ran up to Jesus “and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). He is earnest, well-mannered, respectful. Jesus told him to follow the commandments and the man claimed he had since youth. He called Jesus good. He actually thinks he is good, too. His question was sincere, but really, he wanted Jesus to assure him he was safe, keep up the good work. “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me’” (Mark 10:21). Jesus loved him too much to give him the answer he wanted. Eternity demands everything, so Jesus told the man to give away the one thing he would not. “Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22).
Chase Bank promoted their credit card with an ad showing a man standing inside a store, drooling before a big wall of big flat screens. In the background, the music blares with a song by Queen, “I want it all. I want it all. I want it all. And I want it now.” The scene changes, the man and his wife at home on their couch staring at what he bought with his Chase Bank credit card, “It’s perfect.” Appearing on the screen, big letters: “Chase what matters”
The rich man believed he obeyed the commandments, that he loved the Lord God with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might” (Deuteronomy 6:5), but he would not love God with all his money.
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? ~Mark 8:36
Chase Bank had the right message, but got it wrong. Peter got it right, “See, we have left everything and followed you” (Mark 10:28). Chase what matters…
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” ~Matthew 6:33
…and you get it all, all that matters.
Daily Prayer
God, I think about what Your Son left to come to me. He did not consider being God something to hang on to if it meant He could save me. Your Son allowed my sin to break His relationship with You, His Father. He left what was closest to Him and became sin. He took my sin because of His love for me.
I release my hold on everything, God. May nothing stand between me and You. May my love for You be complete and full. Most of all, I give up myself. I am off the throne, and You are in charge. I die to myself, and the life I now live is Yours.
Amen