“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” – (Mathew 16: 24-25).
When Jesus was here on earth he met many interesting people, from all walks of life. One day Jesus ran into a tycoon with a pressing need, curious how he could get to heaven ( Mark 10: 17-31). The tycoon was apparently a devout man who on most points he and Jesus agreed. However, when Jesus challenged him that he had to sell his property first, give the money to the poor, and follow him, the tycoon walked away very sad for he was so attached to his accumulations.
Seeing him, Jesus turned and “said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” ( vv 23-24).
Perhaps you are curious why. The fact here is that, just as back then, there are many rich people who are so attached to their accumulations, that if it were possible, they would rather be buried with all that is: mansions, fleets of vehicles, jewelry, perhaps even their cows! This is exactly how the Egyptian pharaohs and most traditional kings once lived. They were buried with all their material accumulations, apparently to give them comfort in the next world! For such, their whole identity was tied around their vast accumulations and titles. They could not imagine a life without. In a sense, it was a lonely life, for without those things, there was little else to life.
Yet it is not only rich and mighty affected; any of us can be in that box too. For some of us it could be our honorific titles, academic awards, racial and ethnic identities, status in society by birth- something we hold on so dearly, that we can’t imagine a life without! Well, here Jesus is telling us, that the way to heaven is by surrendering all to him.
Prayer today: Lord Father God, maker of heaven and earth, today I surrender all I have to you, which is not by my power but because you enable me so, to know and experience of your everlasting kingdom, this I pray in Jesus’ name I pray!
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06/05/2024 - 07/05/2024 All day“Do not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)
Almost all cultivators are aware that if soils are used perpetually without rains but constantly under work they are deprived of all nutrients. So, though once productive, they lose all power to yield fresh crops as before. But so is our Christian life when we do not regularly feed our spirit life with the Word!
In our leading verse, the Apostle Paul is urging believers to “renew” their minds rather than make them stale, lest they end up losing all power to yield fruit. But how is this done? We renew our minds by constantly reading the Word of God, for there are always insights with God speaking to us afresh. Psalm 119:104-5 says, “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” The Apostle Peter reminds us, “Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow and be saved.” It is a beautiful illustration for any who have seen a hungry baby sucking the teats of a mother.
Renewing our minds is also by reading about the lives of people of faith who have walked before us and their created works. The Christian faith started in the first century after Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead. Now over two millenniums it has produced giants of faith who have shared their walk with God through inspired teachings that are a treasure to dig into. By scouring the writings of the great saints before us, listening to their recorded sermons, songs and preaching, which these days can be found on virtual medial channels like Yu tube, reading their biographies, our faith is renewed.
And then we also renew our faith through fellowship. When the Apostle Paul urges us, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” ( Hebrews 10:25), he is reminding us that our faith cannot grow in isolation. During the Covid pandemic lockdown one bitter issue was denying Believers opportunity to meet fellow followers of Christ to share testimonies showing the work of God in their lives.
So today, if your faith is on a low keel, or you want it to flower, one thing you can’t help doing without is “renewing” your mind. The blessings to unfold are endless.
Prayer for today:Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a treasure we have of your rich Word to dig into always; books around us of faith to inspire us; and believers to share our faith- may we make use of these, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
