Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 21, 2020
Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me. Mark 10:21
Every single one of us is in formation, under construction, a work in progress. Though your journey with the Lord has a clear point of beginning, it is, in a sense, one that you will never complete. As God is infinite in his goodness, mercy, and love, there is never a point at which we arrive and grasp the fullness of his life. No, even into eternity we will continue to journey evermore deeply into the likeness of Christ. This earthly life, then, is a form of imperfect preparation for the perfect union we will eternally know.
The Rich Young Ruler, as he is commonly called, was a man on a journey. As far as we can tell, he genuinely sought to live an honest, faithful, and godly life. And yet, faithful as he had been in many ways, there was still work to be done. He was still under construction, especially as it related to his desire for affluence and love of the comfort and security that comes from money. In a sense, he is every one of us as we seek to journey with the Lord, trusting him in certain areas, yet in others failing to believe his will is truly for our good and joy.
How does Jesus respond when we aren’t where we’re meant to be? Does he look upon our earthly struggles with sin and wrong desires with great anger and rejection, shaming us in our passions? No, the power of this story is found in Jesus’ compassionate heart of love towards the man. Fully aware of his need and brokenness, the Lord, we are told, “looked at him and loved him.”
Wherever you find yourself today, in a season of great joy and peace or significant pain and loss, the Lord Jesus sees you and loves you. He does not kick you when you are down but lifts you up, washes your wounds (John 13:1-17), and invites you to continue your journey in faithful and complete devotion. As Paul says in Romans, it is the love and goodness of God that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). This is true for you today, and is true for all of eternity, forever being led deeper and deeper into the life of God through his endless love.
Prayer
Father, lead us deeper and deeper into your perfect love we pray, through Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Application
Can you choose to believe the Lord Jesus loves you and has compassion towards you in your place of deepest need?
Related Reading
Psalm 86:15; John 14:15; Romans 5:8
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