Thursday, November 14, 2024

LUKE 18:15-30. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

 



The children were brought to Jesus and the disciples rebuked them but Jesus called them and said they should not be hindered to come to Him for the kingdom of heaven belong to such. Whoever does not receive the kingdom of heaven like a little child will not enter it at all.


Are you like a little child? The first thing about a little child is humility and sincerity. A little child doesn't have any grudge against anyone who caused it pain. A little child doesn't carry offence? It has no anger hidden in its heart against anyone. A little child doesn't despise other little children who live in lower standard, it plays with all without discrimination. Are you like a little child in your inner life or do you have a whitewash the outside making an impression to others that you are but in reality you are a hypocrite and proud? Ask God to make you like a little child because you will never enter Gods kingdom unless you are like a little child.


A rich young ruler asked Him what he must do to inherit the kingdom of heaven and Jesus asked Him whether he kept the commandments though He never mentioned the first four and the last of the ten commandments. The young man said he kept them and Jesus said he lacked one thing. He must go and sell all he has, give to the poor and have treasure in heaven and and come and follow Jesus.


Jesus looked at his heart and saw tremendous love of money and riches and the only way to cure him was to tell him to sell and give away everything He sold. He has said earlier that you cannot serve God and material wealth. Lk 16. He also had earlier given the conditions of discipleship in that you must sell all your possessions. Whatever you cling unto so tightly must be placed in open palm that you are ready to give up anytime. Lk 14.


The young man was very sad; he wasn't willing to pay such a price to follow Jesus. How much has it costed you to follow Jesus?


Jesus said it is had for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. Riches don't just include material wealth, but you can be rich intellectually, or in skills and abilities or in beauty, or your background and upbringing.... whatever area you are rich, it is not easy for the rich to enter Gods kingdom because with riches comes pride and arrogance and despising others who are not as rich as you or as skilled or as beautiful as or as knowledgeable as you. You must strip yourself of all pride and acknowledge that whatever you have, God has given you and therefore you have no reason to be proud or despise others who are not as rich as you. You must also learn to share with others who are not as privileged as you. 1Tim 6:17-19


The disciples asked Jesus who then can be saved. They didn't look at others but themselves and realised that they also were rich. They may not have been the richest in town but they were richer than many others.

When you hear about the rich, are you looking at others or are you looking at yourself and seeing the many ways God has made you richer than others? Jesus said that With God all things are possible, that is God is able to humble a rich person to be like a little child in humility.


He also promised those who left property and family for His sake will receive a hundred time in this world and eternal life in the world to come.


You are blessed to be a blessing

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

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