Jesus and the Rich Young Man

Jesus looked at him [the rich young man] and loved him. He had asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life.

"Keep the law," Jesus said. He meant the Ten Commandments.

"I've kept these since I was a boy," the young man said. But the law couldn't save him or anyone else. Jesus knew that.

He said, "One thing you lack. Go and sell everything you have and give to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven." If he did this, he would be dependent on God, not his wealth. While he thought he was good and religious, he actually failed on the first of the commandments. His wealth was his god and he walked away sad, not willing to give up earthly treasure for eternity's gain.

"I tell you the truth," Jesus said, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age and in the age to come, eternal life."

The Bible leaves the story at this point, but I want to believe that the rich young man considered what Jesus said and decided to sell all he had, give to the poor and inherit a life with God forever. Following God is a choice each of us have. I hope you've accepted Jesus as your Savior and are living for him. If not, what is in the way? It may not be money or possessions. It may be a different sin. Jesus is waiting at the door of your heart for you admit you need Him and to invite Him to help you live for Him. I am praying for you.

Lord Jesus, I am praying for those reading this post, that you would help them trust you and nothing or no one else. Amen.

The Ten Commandments

God wrote the Ten Commandments on stone  to give us hearts of flesh. Do you know them? Have you kept them? Check them out and see if they are relevent in your world today.

1. Do not have any other gods before me. I am the one True God.
2. Do not make or worship idols. Don't let anything become more important than God.
3. Do not miss use God's name. Only say God's name with reverence.
4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. God worked six days and rested one day. That's what He wants for us.
5. Honor your father and your mother. Do what they say.
6. Do not murder. Do not kill another person out of anger or malice.
7. Do not commit adultery. Husbands and wives should not have close relationships with others of the opposite sex.
8. Do not steal. Do not take what is not yours.
9. Do not lie. Do not say things that are not true.
10. Do not covet. Be content with what you have.

Can you keep all these? The truth is we cannot. Although we may think we haven't disobeyed God, He looks into our hearts and He has a different value system. Jesus said for a person to be angry at another person was the same as murder. He also said for a man to look with desire at another woman besides his wife is adultery. These are hard standards because they are God's ways. We may think that we are better than someone else, but the only person we should compare ourselves with is Jesus because HE is the only one who is perfect.

To be close to God, we cannot have sin in our lives. He knew we would choose to do wrong things, but He made a way for us to have a relationship with Him anyway. He loved us so much He sent His son, Jesus, the only perfect person, to die on the cross for our sin, the wrong things we do. When we admit our need of Jesus in our lives, believe that He died to forgive us, and confess and ask Him into our hearts, we will live with Him forever. He promises He will never leave us but always be with us, through good times and bad. Do you see His ABC plan? It is:

• Admit
• Believe
• Confess

Do these and Jesus will be your best Friend forever. I hope you will. I am praying for you.

Lord Jesus, I am praying for the ones reading this post. Give them new hearts to love you. Amen.

The Fall of Jericho

Now Jericho was tightly shut up. No one went in and no one came out. The people in the city were afraid of the the powerful nation of Israel. God said to Joshua, "I have delivered Jericho, its king, and fighting men into your hands. March around the city with your army. Do this for six days. On the seventh day have seven priests blow their trumpets in front of the ark and march around Jericho seven times. At the sound of a long, a very long blast, have the people give a loud, a very loud shout, and the city will fall down.

Joshua believed God would do exactly what He said, so he and his men walked around Jericho once every day for six days. On the seventh day, the seven priests blew their trumpets and Joshua's army marched around Jericho seven times. At the sound of a long, a very long blast, the people gave a loud, a very loud shout and the walls of Jericho crumbled to the ground. The city fell--never to be rebuilt.

Are there times in your life when things seem so great to you that it is hard to trust God? That is how Joshua felt. Against all odds, he trusted God to do what He said He would do and God did exactly what He promised. You can be sure He keeps His promises. The promise I rely on most is that He promised He would never leave me, that He would always be with me. So whenever I feel alone, I say His name and know He is near. He loves you as He loves me and He will be with you too. Just say His name.