Don't Walk

Don't Walk
Words of Faith 2-7-2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Mark 10
[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: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do 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.

We often confuse a specific diagnosis with a general exhortation. The response of Jesus to the Rich man was a specific diagnosis for a particular man with a unique, though not uncommon, problem. Jesus was not suggesting that all believers should sell all their belongings and give them to the poor. In fact, this is the only time we know of that Jesus gave this prescription.
In the Gospels we read that Jesus knew a number of wealthy people, Mary, Martha and Lazarus, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, and Joanna the wife of Cuza, just to name a few. At least one of the disciples, Levi, appears to have been quite wealthy. These wealthy friends certainly contributed in various ways to support Jesus' ministry and to our knowledge, He never saw their wealth as anything but a blessing. But this rich young man was different.
It has often been said that this man did not have riches so much as his riches had him. The fact that he walked away from Jesus, the Messiah of God, in order to keep his riches tells us that Jesus was right! It all goes back to the nature of God expressed in the Law: "You will have no other gods before me (Ex. 20:3)." This man could keep most of the other commandments, but he had shattered this one commandment. The truth is that God is a jealous God.
Do you remember the great test of Abraham? The test was to see if Abraham would offer back to God even his son, his only son Isaac, whom he loved (Gen. 22). When Abraham genuinely offered Isaac, God delivered him back. Our "Isaac" is the one thing that we are tempted to love more than God. For the rich young man, his "Isaac" was his money. Had he been obedient to Jesus, and sold his possessions to give to the poor, God likely would have given back wealth to him a hundredfold knowing that He could trust this man. But the man failed the test. He walked.

What is the one thing in this world that you are tempted to love more than God? What is the one thing in life that you are unwilling to surrender to Him? Ask God to show you. It might be something material. It could be a position or place of prestige. It might be a ministry or achievement for Him. Whatever it is, if you unwilling to surrender it to God, it stands between you and God. Listen to God. Let it go. Don't walk.

Lord, reveal in my life anything that might stand as an idol. Show me anything that I may have placed into prominence above You. Cleanse my life of anything that might keep me from obedience to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2024 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.