Read: Mark10:17-31
Be Ye Perfect ! “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”
Matt.19:21
The young man in our reading today was disappointed when Jesus asked him to sell what he had and give to the poor. He was sad because he had much possessions and he couldn’t let go of them. His possessions possessed him. Jesus came to bring freedom to us from everything that would bind or block us from all that God has for us.
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32 When Jesus asked this young man to sell his possessions he was trying to show the man what was blocking him from obtaining eternal treasure. God does not need our things. He is the Possessor of heaven and earth. Everything already belongs to Him.
The things which we cannot let go off possess us and keep us from what God has for us. When we let go of them we master them. We are no more dictated to by those things. These could be possessions, titles, money, time, friendships, lands, houses etc anything that keeps us away from Gods best for us. Before we can possess something we must die to it. It must find its correct place in our lives. And Jesus answered and said, “
Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” Mark 10:29-30
The one who cannot let go of earthly possessions has not entered into the receiving of eternal treasures. Such a person has not understood who Jesus is and what has been given to him. When Jesus becomes Lord in all the areas of your life then truly you are a follower of Him and will lack in nothing. Holding on and not letting go has got to do with fear of lack. The one who knows God as Possessor of heaven and earth has no fear of lack.
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”Phil.4:19
When God created Adam he gave man the authority to have dominion and subdue the earth. He was to rule over things on the earth and not let things to rule over him. After the fall Satan became the prince of this world.
“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”. Eph 2:2 We become slave to the thing which masters us. But as believers in Jesus we have received all authority and the power to bring things in subjection to the Lord Jesus who is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”2 Cor.10:4,5
Jesus said the thief comes to steal and destroy but I am come that you might have life and have it more abundantly. God wants to reveal to us by His Holy Spirit where we have been robbed by Satan. Satan comes only to take away. When Cain got angry against his brother Abel, he was giving access to Satan. God warned Cain of this
“If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”Gen 4:7 That very thing which we hold to tightly might be giving the enemy license to crouch at our door. If we do not master sin then it will master us.
“Neither give place to the devil.”Eph.4:27 The young man addressed Jesus as “Good Master” but Jesus was not Master in his life because something else kept him from following Jesus. To call Jesus our Master is to give him Lordship over everything in our lives. Is Jesus Lord and Master in every area of your life? Don’t forfeit the true treasures of God by clinging to some fleeting pleasure on earth. Receive Him. Receive All He has for you!.
“Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master even Christ.”
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