Sacred Holidays: A Devotional Leading Up To SummerSample

DAY FOUR: 

Today we are going to look at one of the saddest stories that has happened on a road in Scripture. It’s heartbreaking not because it would make headline news, but because it’s one so many of us can relate all to easily with, if we’re honest. 

Read Matthew 19:16-22 and note why the man got back on the road that day sorrowful. 

Here is this man who had done everything right. If there was a rule or an expectation, he had met it. And you can tell these things gave him great confidence because he felt secure enough to walk straight up to Jesus. His number one concern was to find out what other good deeds could he do so that he could inherit eternal life. Ah, now this is where it starts to hit home for us. We want to know what we can do for eternal life, instead of remembering that it’s not something we can earn; it’s a gift we respond to (Eph. 2:8-9). 

This man was still confident and speaking of religious laws, he said: “All this I have kept. What do I still lack?”

I wonder how many times you’ve thought or asked this of God. Lord, I’ve tried everything—why? What in the world am I not doing right? 

Jesus is as patient with our questions today as He was then when He answered the man. His answer?  The only thing left to do is give up everything you have and come follow me. 

Can you even imagine? We give up a lot when we follow God, sure, but in a lot of cultures, following Jesus doesn’t require us to sacrifice all our possessions in one moment. However giving up everything to follow Jesus—that would be hard. Imagine if Jesus walked up to you today and said, “To follow me, you must leave all your possessions, all your clothes, your career, your savings, and your family. Leave it all and follow me.” I want to say that I would have responded differently than this man, but I honestly don’t know if I wouldn’t have also walked away sorrowful along the side of the road that day. 

Jesus finishes this story giving us a lot of hope!

Read Matthew 19:25-30 and note what comes when we follow God. 

Nothing is impossible with God. When we choose to leave our own road and walk the way God is walking, then anything can happen. Jesus says that if we follow Him in this life, , we will have a hundred times the blessings in the next one. 

End today asking God to give you the faith to follow Him anywhere!