Scripture
For our verse for today, let’s look at Luke 18:22-23, “When Jesus heard this, He said to him, ‘You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ but when he heard this, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.”
Background & Application
Regardless of the challenges facing us, it is still fair to say that we Americans are among the richest people on the planet. We’re not just rich in dollars and possessions. We are blessed with the freedom to worship and speak openly about our government. We have a military that will defend us to the death on our land and on foreign soil. Individually, so many of us have good health and steady incomes and family and friends that love us and will help us at a moment’s notice. Also, like the man in our verse, we do our very best to keep God’s commandments and do what is right. But just like the man in Jesus’ story, I think we also lack one thing. The question is what is that one thing that God is showing you that you lack? Your conscience may be convicting you about not tithing like you know He wants you to. Perhaps your conscience is trying to pull you away from the tv and open up the Scriptures to you. Maybe you’re struggling to forgive because your feelings have been hurt again, and it’s easier just to dismiss it and disengage from the relationship. Or maybe you know you’re supposed to share Jesus with someone but just won’t open up and do it. When our treasure in heaven becomes more valuable to us than our feelings or our money or entertainment, then I think we’ll do the one thing that Jesus wants us to. That’s when we can say we’re following Him. For sure let’s not walk away sad, realizing that what we’ve valued is not what Jesus wants from us.
Charge
As you talk to God today, ask Him what one thing you lack. Confess that you’ve got plenty of things, but still may not be following Him as you should, and ask Him what might be getting in the way. Thank Him for each blessing you experience throughout the day, and actively try to be a blessing to someone else.
