Story of the Rich Young Man...and Jesus! (2/2)

Luke 18:25-30: Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

What did you learn from the story of the rich young man and Jesus? The rich young man went away sad because Jesus knew that his heart was divided. He wanted to do good but since he had all that wealth it was hard for him to let it go. This young man was not necessarily and evil man in fact he was keeping the majority of God's commands (almost all of them!). But one thing was lacking...He was not able to give his WHOLE heart to God because part of it was stuck in worldly riches. Many of us can fall into this easily, the cares of the world can pull us away from God. I know I have fallen into that in my life but for me I have asked myself "what good would it profit me if I gain the world but lose my soul". For me, I want Jesus as the center of my life. The rich young man did not pass the test...but will you pass? Jesus more than anything else wants us to follow him with our whole heart! This is hard! But Jesus gave me hope, gave us all hope when he said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible!"

1) Keep the commands of Jesus 2) Sell everything, give to the poor! 3) Money and things become idols 4) Follow Jesus with your whole heart!

Story of the Rich Young Man...and Jesus! (1/2)

The Gospels uses both parables and stories to teach us about Jesus and His teachings. There are many parables that Jesus told and there are also many stories of people who met Jesus...The story of the rich young man is not a parable but one of the later...A story of a person who actually asked Jesus a question. And if I have learned one thing after reading all those stories...I know the one thing that always happens when a person meets Jesus face to face. That person is never the same. Blind people see. Lepers healed. Fisherman become disciples. Young rich man faced with a life-changing choice.

In this story of the rich young man, I think there are many teaching points and many "learning" points for us to discover. However, I want to focus on one for this devotional today and it is this...Love the Lord your God with all your heart...The rich young man ask what good thing must he do to be saved? Each of us could actually ask the same question and Jesus response is obey keep the commandments. The rich young men replies he has kept all the commands but still feels lacking. Jesus answers if you want to be perfect sell your possessions and give to the poor.

The story of the rich young man can be found in Luke 18:18-24 as follows: A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[a]” “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

What is a missional youth? (2/2)

God looks at the heart of the matter namely whether a young person has a heart set on purity, goodness, and faith or on carnality, wickedness, and pride. In 1 Timothy, Paul encourages his young disciple to fight the good fight and holding on to faith with a good conscience. Paul role models what is require to serve God in faith. The apostle's requirements are quite different than what would normally be expected. Paul does not ask Timothy to be perfect, to be a saint, or to be successful at least not in the world's perspective. In fact, Paul begins sharing and repeating his own testimony to Timothy that he was once a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent man who acted in ignorance and unbelief. However, God invites Paul to join His mission of saving and transforming lives in the name of Jesus Christ. Paul does a complete 180 degree turn and does begin to serve God. In addition, the apostle Paul understands that he is a sinner and even confesses that he is the worst kind of sinner because he persecuted believers in Christ. From this example, however, God's heart for the lost is evident as well as His desire to find humble, faithful, and obedient missional disciples.

In Paul's instruction to Timothy, God's desire for every disciple is made apparent that He looks for pure hearts filled with sincere faith and a good conscience to fulfill His mission. God's missional youths all possess a shared quality - a faithful obedient heart. Throughout Scripture, God looks for those who can serve him with faith and obedience. In 1 Timothy, Paul lays out the foundation of faith comes from love that is born out of a pure heart. This does not mean a sinless heart but a heart filled with sincere faith. Apart from Jesus Christ, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. However, in the power of Christ and with sincere faith, a disciple can follow God's mission with a good conscience through the power of the Holy Spirit.

What is a missional youth? (1/2)

Timothy holds a special place in my life because my middle name comes from this youthful disciple. At my point in life, I resonate a lot with the message that God spoke to Timothy through the apostle Paul. I imagine I'm very close to Timothy's age at the time that Paul wrote this letter to him. I hope, however, that Timothy and I have more than just age and name in common. 1 Timothy is a great epistle on encouragement because the language and style is written from a mentor to a disciple. In this letter from Paul, a lot can be learned about God's heart for His disciples. The first chapter of 1 Timothy introduces the discipling and mentoring nature between Paul and Timothy. Paul calls Timothy a true son in the faith. This acknowledgement only is a powerful one. Paul recognizes and affirms Timothy's faith even in this first address. In this passage, some background is shared about Paul's own life before he met Christ and the lessons he has learned since accepting Christ. Timothy gets a full dose of wisdom, encouragement, and blessing from Paul throughout this epistle beginning in very first sentence.

If there is one point that ought strikes out the most in this passage, the repeated use of the word "faith" ought to stand out the most. The description of "faith" and "faithful" are repeated at least six times in this very first chapter and rightly so for "faith" is a vital element of living out God's mission. Paul encourages Timothy to promote not controversies but encourage God's work which is by faith. In addition, Paul the wise Christian mentor, goes on to say that, "The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." If I could choose one key theme verse that ties together the need for missional youths to have faithful obedient hearts it would be this! The greatest command ever written in the Bible is summed up by loving God and loving others. Paul states in one sentence that this kind of love comes from a pure heart with a good conscience and a sincere faith. One of God's greatest skill throughout history has always been choosing the right missional youth to carry out His will. For God sees what man does not, the heart.