I’m reading through the book of Matthew in my quiet time right now. And just so you know, I originally typed that as my “quit” time which has definitely been an accurate description throughout times of my life.
Anyway, I had big plans to read The Message version of the Bible in a year last year and never actually made it through the whole thing. It’s a long story and I’ll spare you the details, but it’s safe to say that I got a little bogged down somewhere along the minor prophets.
So I decided that I’d begin the new year with the New Testament. And all this blah, blah, blah has just been a long lead in to share something I read this morning that spoke to me.
Matthew 19: 16-26 tells the story of the rich young ruler who asked Jesus what he must do to get eternal life. Jesus replies, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.”
The young man says, “I’ve done all that. What’s left?”
Okay. So let’s stop there. Really? He’s done all that? It kind of reminds me of a guy I dated in college who told me he didn’t need to go to confession because it wasn’t like he’d sinned. Who knew I was dating the Messiah?
But, honestly, it kind of reminds me of myself. I can get totally deceived into believing that I’m pretty good on my own. I do all the right things. I’m nice to the guy that bags my groceries at the grocery store. I tithe at church on Sundays.
And I’m totally kidding myself. I am in need of grace and mercy on a daily basis. I covet, I envy, I put myself before others. It can just get ugly in my heart really fast.
Ultimately, Jesus sees what is going on in the young ruler’s heart and tells him to sell all his possessions and give everything he has to the poor. This was too much for the young man and so he walks away. He walks away from Jesus.
Jesus watches him go and tells his disciples, “He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go.” (That’s the Message translation)
I sat here on my couch this morning and was totally convicted. I hold on tight to a lot of things. There are things I know I need to let go of but it’s so hard to think about releasing them.
And I think we all have a tendency to do that. We hold onto our things. Our pride, our fears, our insecurities. They become our familiar blankets that we wrap ourselves in.
All the while Jesus is telling us to let those things go. He wants to set us free from the things we let bind us. He wants to give us life and life ABUNDANTLY.
I don’t want to walk away from that. I want to let go of all the things I’m holding too tightly and embrace what he has for me instead.
That’s my prayer for myself right now.
And I just thought you might be able to relate.