WordLive - Year OneVoorbeeld

Prepare: Pause this morning to ask our Lord to enable you to hear whatever challenging words he has for you.

Beyond obedience
If we want to be Jesus’ disciples mere obedience to commands is not enough. Discipleship can never be only rules for life or dos and don’ts to get us where we want to be.

The problem with that approach is that we remain in charge and don’t recognise the limitless right of our Lord to ask for more. It lacks heart and, however serious we might be in our obedience, we shall inevitably wind up short.

Commitment counts
For Jesus’ disciples the man in the story must have ticked all the right boxes. He is materially successful – to many in Israel a sure sign of God’s approval. He is respectful of Jesus and wants to be a follower (vs 17,18). And he has been a serious student of the Law all his life (v 20). Even Jesus seems impressed (v 21).

No wonder blank amazement greets the man’s sad departure (vs 23–26). If this man falls short, surely no one will make the grade! But Jesus encourages his real disciples of all times and places that a radical, loving commitment of the heart is worth far more in the kingdom of God than boxes laboriously ticked. It is indeed a ‘world turned upside down’.

Respond: Jesus’ response to the man was specifically to him. Pray that you will know today what full commitment to Jesus means for you.

http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-09-20