The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Luke:18:18-30

kjv@Luke:18:18 @ And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

kjv@Luke:18:19 @ And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

kjv@Luke:18:20 @ Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

kjv@Luke:18:21 @ And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

kjv@Luke:18:22 @ Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

kjv@Luke:18:23 @ And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

kjv@Luke:18:24 @ And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

kjv@Luke:18:25 @ For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

kjv@Luke:18:26 @ And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

kjv@Luke:18:27 @ And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

kjv@Luke:18:28 @ Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

kjv@Luke:18:29 @ And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,

kjv@Luke:18:30 @ Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

Today's notes:

Context:

Before - Luke:18:15-17 The Little Children and Jesus
After - Luke:18:31-34 Jesus Again Predicts His Death

Study Resources:

G2816 be heir to/inherit

G102 impossible/impotent

G1415 possible/capable

Notes:

The same question is asked by a lawyer attempting to tempt Jesus kjv@Luke:10:25. The two show an understanding of the eternal life ahead and of it being inherited. We can discern that it is not the idea of the question that is the temptation in the former sense, but the objective of it being asked; the use intended of the answer.

Many a reader has taken this passage as an advisement against being rich; let's ask the obvious of it however so as to not misuse the question ourselves. What does one do in an earthly sense to be heir of their earthly parent's estate other than be born to that parent? What would the present riches of a son have to do with his later inheritance? Not too long ago we reviewed the inheritance of two sons, one squandered, the other nearly pushed aside in anger and the reactions of an equally understanding father. What does any of the previous context have to do about having to do something ourselves or having too much wealth? Isn't the context rather that there is nothing that we can do and nothing that we could pay; it is by God's grace through Jesus alone? Perhaps the disciples were closer to the understanding when they asked "who then can be saved" as if sensing that we are all similarly rich in the same sorrowful way.

What is it that could keep us from being an heir in Christ's eternity? What richness are we all likely not to easily surrender that if left to remain could keep us from His much greater riches? Just yesterday we were exhorted to become as a child and the day before we were left with a man pounding his sinful yet repenting heart. Could it be our insistence in doing it somehow ourselves? To accomplish it by what is right in our own eye? Are we not all doing this except by God's entering in and making something other than all of that possible?

This is not to say that leaving all earthly possession if called to is not important. It is to say that the two are separate and that Christ's deliverance of heart and soul must come first. For both these things there are present and future tangible and spiritual benefit.

Key Messages:

Declaring Certainty

kjv@Malachi:1:6 @ A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

kjv@Daniel:4:35 @ And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

kjv@Jeremiah:32:17 @ Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

Further Resources:

Comment Board:Luke:18:18-30
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Luke:18:18-30 rwp@Luke:18:18-30 mhcc@Luke:18:18-30
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index