Saturday, February 18, 2012

What we don't realize

Whoever loves his life loses it, but anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.
                                                                                                                  -John 12:25

What does this mean? It means EVERYTHING... There was a man in Mark 10:17, he asked Jesus "what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus told him that he still lacked one thing, told him he needed to sell everything (EVERYTHING) that he had and divide it among the poor, and he will have treasure in heaven; then told him to come back and follow Jesus. The man was sad and went away grieved.

 What hit me about this, is what he did not realize is that when we give our all up to Him, The One, He will give back so much more, and His Word promises it! We close our fists so tightly sometimes, we need to let Him open it up and have it! Now watch what Jesus says to his disciples once the man went away. In Luke's account in chapter 18:
                        29 And He said to them, I say to you truly, there is no one who has left the house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 Who will not receive in return many times more in this world and, in the coming age, eternal life.

 Wow! He says in this world, and in the coming age of eternal life! Then why do we hold so tightly to these "things"? We often feel like God is trying to take from us, when in reality He is only trying to give to us. He is looking where our hearts are where our loyalty is, do we trust Him enough to know what is best for us? This is not just about wealth or material possessions. God sees the big picture, He sees what is good for us. God wanted his heart, his all... He is asking the same from us. It will look different to each of us, it may not be selling all we have to give to the poor. We know what He has asked from us.

               9For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.
                                                                                                                       -2 Chronicles 16:9a

I love that verse, this verse comes to life, just watch what all those awesome words translated in its original language mean:
                 9For the eyes of the LORD (Jehovah, "the existing One") run to and fro (eagerly, quickly) throughout the whole earth, to give strong support (hold up, encourage, sustain) to those whose heart (inner part, mind, will, thinking, understanding) is blameless (full, perfect, His)( peaceful of a covenant relation with him) toward him.

 So, that is saying when we decide to let Him open our fist and give the all of our mind, will, thinking, and understanding to Him, He will support, hold us up, encourage, and sustain us. Not because we are perfect, but because He is. Because our covenant relationship with Him is at peace, we are at perfect peace with Him.
 One more thought, in James 5:8 it states; Establish (make stable in the truth that is in you) your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

That means we don't have all the time in the world, we want to be ready, we don't want to walk away like the rich ruler in Mark and Luke full of grief, if only He could have realized what the Lord had waiting for Him. It means EVERYTHING....

1 comment:

  1. Thanks Melissa, I needed to hear this once again today...it's so very true. He truely wants our entire soul and that includes our hearts. He wants us to be happy and in order to be happy He wants up to give everything up in order to receive many more blessings in the coming age of eternal life. Thank You again girl. This is a very refreshing word ;0

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