Faithfully Follow

Posted by Karah

PAUSE

Stop and think about your schedule for this week. What do you want to prioritize? Keep your priorities in mind as you study today’s passage.

“’I have kept all these,’ the young man told Him. ‘What do I still lack?’ ‘If you want to be perfect,’ Jesus said to him, ‘go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.’” —Matthew 19:20-21

Read Matthew 19:16-22.

The young man seemed to know he lacked something. He assumed he could do more to earn salvation, but salvation can’t be earned.

• Jesus told the young man, “there is only One who is good”(v. 17). What did He mean?

• Jesus said the young man had to keep the commandments to enter eternal life—but Jesus was the only one able to do that perfectly. Why did Jesus direct the man to examine his obedience to the ten commandments?

This ruler thought he was doing all the right things, but Jesus proved otherwise. Still, Jesus gave the ruler a chance to reveal his heart and follow Him. When faced with his own insincere motives, the man walked away from this encounter disappointed.

• Read verse 21 and Matthew 6:19-21. Using the chart below, list some things you treasure under the correct heading.
Worldly Treasures                                                 Treasures in Heaven

 

RESPOND

The man allowed his earthly wealth to get in the way of knowing Jesus. Sometimes we do the same.

• What things in your life do you choose to prioritize over spending time with Jesus? What evidence in your life reveals your priorities? Journal your response.

• Using the headlines below, list obstacles to your relationship with Jesus and ways to overcome them.
Obstacles                                                                       Solutions

 

BEHIND THE STORY

Many passages in Scripture focus on the fact that salvation is obtained by grace through faith, yet many Jewish people in Jesus’ day could not let go of their legalistic traditions. Keeping the law had become a prideful pursuit that separated “good” Jews from “bad” Jews. They completely missed the point: God desires hearts dedicated to Him, not sinful hearts dedicated to following rules.

MEMORY VERSE

Spend time this week memorizing Matthew 6:19-21. Write it somewhere that you can see it every day, like a mirror in your room.

THE POINT

Nothing should stand in the way of our relationship with Jesus.

Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from EC magazine. @ 2016 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, Weekly Devotions