What Must I Do?
Mark 10:17-22 (NLT)
As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”
“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Reflection
What's the most challenging thing you would be willing to give up in order to improve your life?
Pop? Junk food? Alcohol? TV? Gossip?
For me, it was social media.
After my late wife passed away, I chose to stay in Michigan to be with her family. My own family had already moved away, and I didn't want to uproot Samuel, our son, and cause her family more pain by relocating. I sacrificed my own recovery for their sake, a decision that nearly cost me everything. Gradually, I descended into a deep depression, turning to alcohol and an unhealthy relationship to numb the loneliness. I started building a wall between myself and God, wondering how He could allow such suffering to befall me.
I allowed this painful cycle to persist for a couple of years until I realized that any more time in Michigan might permanently shatter my chances of recovery. So, I made the difficult decision to move to Ohio and embark on a fresh start. Once I relocated, The Tree Church provided me with the necessary counseling to begin the healing process I had avoided for so long. Unfortunately, I hadn't severed the unhealthy relationship in Michigan, which remained a major obstacle to my full recovery.
After listening to a sermon from my pastor, who also happens to be my brother, about the things in our lives that hold us captive, I came to the realization that social media was tethering me to my old life, preventing me from moving forward. I found myself unable to break free from social media on my own, however, so I asked my brother to assist me. He took the step of permanently deleting all my social media accounts, releasing me from their grip. From that moment onward, I was able to focus on my healing journey and reconnect with God.
God isn't calling us to sell all we have; He is calling us to relinquish that one thing that prevents us from wholeheartedly following Him. What that thing is may vary from person to person, but the grip it has on us is constant. It's only when we remove that obstacle from our lives that we can wholeheartedly devote ourselves to a life of following God.
Action Step
Take five to ten minutes to think about any obstacles in your life preventing you from fully following God. Think about things you have control over. Focus on things like poor diet, substance abuse, social media addiction, etc. Once you have identified the thing or things that are a hindrance, write them down on a piece of paper and ask God to help deliver you from their hold on your life. If you have a close friend who can be an accountability partner for you, I suggest bringing them in on your struggle so they can help keep you accountable.
Prayer
God, I am tired of the strongholds in my life that are stopping me from fully serving You. Help me tear them down. Give me strength every day to fight against the urges I have to keep these things a part of my life. Give me wisdom in how to fight them and open my heart to receive more of You. Thank You, God, for the healing You will do in my life. Amen.
As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”
“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Reflection
What's the most challenging thing you would be willing to give up in order to improve your life?
Pop? Junk food? Alcohol? TV? Gossip?
For me, it was social media.
After my late wife passed away, I chose to stay in Michigan to be with her family. My own family had already moved away, and I didn't want to uproot Samuel, our son, and cause her family more pain by relocating. I sacrificed my own recovery for their sake, a decision that nearly cost me everything. Gradually, I descended into a deep depression, turning to alcohol and an unhealthy relationship to numb the loneliness. I started building a wall between myself and God, wondering how He could allow such suffering to befall me.
I allowed this painful cycle to persist for a couple of years until I realized that any more time in Michigan might permanently shatter my chances of recovery. So, I made the difficult decision to move to Ohio and embark on a fresh start. Once I relocated, The Tree Church provided me with the necessary counseling to begin the healing process I had avoided for so long. Unfortunately, I hadn't severed the unhealthy relationship in Michigan, which remained a major obstacle to my full recovery.
After listening to a sermon from my pastor, who also happens to be my brother, about the things in our lives that hold us captive, I came to the realization that social media was tethering me to my old life, preventing me from moving forward. I found myself unable to break free from social media on my own, however, so I asked my brother to assist me. He took the step of permanently deleting all my social media accounts, releasing me from their grip. From that moment onward, I was able to focus on my healing journey and reconnect with God.
God isn't calling us to sell all we have; He is calling us to relinquish that one thing that prevents us from wholeheartedly following Him. What that thing is may vary from person to person, but the grip it has on us is constant. It's only when we remove that obstacle from our lives that we can wholeheartedly devote ourselves to a life of following God.
Action Step
Take five to ten minutes to think about any obstacles in your life preventing you from fully following God. Think about things you have control over. Focus on things like poor diet, substance abuse, social media addiction, etc. Once you have identified the thing or things that are a hindrance, write them down on a piece of paper and ask God to help deliver you from their hold on your life. If you have a close friend who can be an accountability partner for you, I suggest bringing them in on your struggle so they can help keep you accountable.
Prayer
God, I am tired of the strongholds in my life that are stopping me from fully serving You. Help me tear them down. Give me strength every day to fight against the urges I have to keep these things a part of my life. Give me wisdom in how to fight them and open my heart to receive more of You. Thank You, God, for the healing You will do in my life. Amen.
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