10-19-07 Which ones? -- Matthew 19:18
"Which ones?"
-- Matthew 19:18
Jesus is so perceptive. The rich young man comes along and wants to strike a business deal with Jesus. "How can I negotiate for a share of eternal life?" he asks. Jesus gives a reply that probably no evangelical has ever repeated to a seeker, but Jesus gives it and it fits: "If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
Wait a second! we say. I thought we were saved by grace through faith, not by works. We think that salvation is free and easy, but Jesus alone among all men understands how costly salvation really is.
"Obey the commandments," Jesus says.
The young man's reply reveals what Jesus was after. "Which ones?" This young man was not embracing God. He was wheeling and dealing with God. By contrast, David delighted in God's commands because his heart was where God's heart was. For David, the law was a voyage of discovery revealing the God he worshiped and loved. For this young man, the commandments were part of a contract that got him what he wanted. He wanted a manageable set of contract requirements.
Jesus was looking for a way into this young man's heart. He wanted something more than the young man's name on a roster. He wanted the young man himself. He isn't in the business of passing out free tickets to heaven. Rather He is is redeeming whole human beings. God wants all of me and He wants all of you.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
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