One Thing You Still Lack...

While reading from Luke 18 this morning, there were some words of Christ that jumped off the page to at me.  It was kind of scary.  I hope the same thing happens to you.

Christ is having a conversation with "The Rich Ruler."  They are going back and forth about what someone must do to inherit eternal life.  Jesus says, "You know the commandments:  do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother."  The rulers response is surprising to me.  He looks at God in the flesh and says, "All these I have kept from my youth."  Wow!!!  This is a pretty bold statement.  It must have been true because Jesus doesn't challenge his statement.  However, the way that Jesus did response impacted this man (and Derek) to the core of who he was.

One Thing You Still Lack...
Even though he may have kept all the things that Jesus listed there was still one thing that was missing in this man's life and I will go out on a limb and say that it is missing from must of our lives as well.

1. "Sell all that you have."
2. "Distribute to the poor."
3. "Have treasure in heaven."
4. "Come, follow me."

I love, yet hate this response by Christ.  I love it from the perspective that it is the word of God and that it gives us a step by step process of improving our journey with Christ.  I hate it from the perspective that its challenging.  Its hard.  It require a total abandonment of Derek.  Maybe it is just me, but I think there are several people in the American Church who need to take heed to this message by our Lord.

How is this possible?  Great question.  This is the same question that those who heard Christ say it had and the response of Jesus gives us the secret.  Jesus said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."  I hope you will claim this verse as your own today.  I hope you understand what this means.  If we will give it all to God, its possible. 

God Bless!!!