Mark 10:17-27

The young rich dude.

You can obey YHWH’s commands, live a decent life, and all the while be loving something more than Him. A simple test we may give ourselves is to imagine anything or anyone being taken away from us and then asking ourself if we would still love and follow Jesus.

Perhaps we follow the rules because we simply realize it is a good and more peaceful way to live, or because it makes more sense. But God asks the more important question, “Do you love Me more than anything or anyone else?” Following the rules is much easier if you do. And I agree with Brennan Manning (and Luke Mertes) that we will all someday face the all-important question from God of, “Did you believe that I loved you?”

Mark 10:28-30

Whatever you give up for YHWH will be returned a hundred times over to you. I have found this to be very true with regard to my time.

Proverbs 8:8-9

All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.

God’s word(s) and message are clear and comforting to those honestly seeking from their center, from their open, receiving spirit.

His word is rocket surgery and confusing as hell to those looking with the mind only, especially a closed one.

The person who has genuinely and tangibly embraced God, who has tasted and seen that He is good, is perhaps the most open person of all. For it is the close-minded person who cannot receive.

Have you just sat and received God? Allowed Him to shower you with His goodness while you did nothing? It’s pretty awesome. And way better than striving for it.