Monday 28 Jul 2014

July 28: Matthew 19:23-30

Key Verse: Matthew 19:27
Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

Devotion:
After Jesus had told the rich young ruler that he had to give up everything he owned in order to get to heaven, the disciples had a hard time trying to come to terms with how anyone could get to heaven. But after Jesus told them that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to get to heaven they wondered whether any person could get to heaven who had any belongings. Jesus saw what was in their hearts and pressed for a reaction by saying that with God there was not anything that was impossible!

Peter stuck with the current train of thought and said how he had given up everything to follow Christ… How many times do we try to give account for ourselves by comparing our ways with those of others or by saying how much we have done or given up for Christ? That is exactly what Peter was doing; comparing himself with the world and not thinking about the relationship he had with God. Being willing to give things up for God and telling everyone about it are two very different things!

Jesus wants us to have a very personal relationship with Him and that means making it very personal. We live in a society where everything seems to be made public all the time through using social media and social groups and that means saying things about what we are doing when it may not be appropriate! Many people get upset daily through what people blurt out on things like Facebook when they would get along so much better by not making everything public.

Jesus has warned us against acting like the Pharisees that boast their prayers before others. Well the same goes for everything that we do for Christ; we need to temper what we tell others about what we get up to for Christ. If we are not careful we will be boasting and seeking our own glory rather than giving all glory to God. Jesus knows that there are many distractions in life that take our minds to that place where we think more of ourselves and money seems to be one of the biggest traps for us. Jesus does not warn against having money but what the love of money does to us!

Points to Ponder:
Do you have enough money?

Do you seek it more than God?