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Mark 10:13-31 NIV
The Little Children and Jesus
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone, who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them, and blessed them.
The Rich and the Kingdom of God
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man, this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” 28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
What has helped you to see the impossibility of earning the kingdom?
I am a doer. I like to work and I enjoy accomplishing things. There were times when I checked off lists of things I needed to do for You. I was enthusiastically trying to show my love for You by trying to make You happy, but in the process, I got bogged down with the details. Instead of nurturing my relationship with You and absorbing Your wisdom through reading the Word, praying, and loving others, I was getting burned out and tired. It has never been about what I can DO to earn salvation. Instead of focusing on how much I can accomplish, help me to accept Your gift of salvation as openly, freely, and willingly as a child. Let me step outside of my orderly box and enthusiastically accept the mysteries and wonders of Your mercy and grace. Change my focus of serving from being a chore to conquer to an opportunity of sharing Your love as a response of compassion. Although You paid the price for my salvation, there is a cost to follow You. Let me accept the cost. The reward of heaven is greater than anything I can achieve, possess, or may lose because of my faith in You. Lord, I humbly confess my sinfulness and submit completely to Your sovereign Lordship of my life. Your grace is not based on what I do, what I have, or who I am but it is only based on what You have done. Let me enthusiastically accept Your gift of salvation. Amen