The rich young ruler had the controlling passion to be perfect. When he saw Jesus Christ, he wanted to be like Him. Our Lord never places anyone’s personal holiness above everything else when He calls a disciple. Jesus’ primary consideration is my absolute annihilation of my right to myself and my identification with Him, which means having a relationship with Him in which there are no other relationships. Luke 14:26 has nothing to do with salvation or sanctification, but deals solely with unconditional identification with Jesus Christ. Very few of us truly know what is meant by the absolute “go” of unconditional identification with, and abandonment and surrender to, Jesus.“Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him…” (Mark 10:21). This look of Jesus will require breaking your heart away forever from allegiance to any other person or thing. Has Jesus ever looked in this way at you? This look of Jesus transforms, penetrates, and captivates. Where you are soft and pliable with God is where the Lord has looked at you. If you are hard and vindictive, insistent on having your own way, and always certain that the other person is more likely to be in the wrong than you are, then there are whole areas of your nature that have never been transformed by His gaze.“One thing you lack….” From Jesus Christ’s perspective, oneness with Him, with nothing between, is the only good thing.

“…sell whatever you have….” I must humble myself until I am merely a living person. I must essentially renounce possessions of all kinds, not for salvation (for only one thing saves a person and that is absolute reliance in faith upon Jesus Christ), but to follow Jesus. “…come…and follow Me.” And the road is the way He went.

_________________________________________________________________

September 28 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good morning Lord and thank You for this lesson today. I have heard and read about this rich young ruler many, many times, however, this is the first time I have seen myself as the rich young ruler. Not that I am rich, but in that I have lots and lots of things that I think are important. Like the rich young ruler, I have my own priorities, my own ideas about what is important; my family, my work, my home…..

Lord, please help me seek You the first thing every day in surrender and connection and help me let go of my priorities, regardless of how wholesome and proper they may appear. Help me seek You through surrender and be connected so that You are able to live through me, changing my priorities and transforming me into the likeness of Jesus.

 

And God says…”Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and I will provide everything else you require, including the power of the Holy Spirit to transform and give you power to surrender and live connected to Jesus. You are not able to live the Christian life, you are not able to love all your neighbors, you are not able to stay focused on the right and proper things. In your natural state you will always seek to look right, feel right, look good and be in control. However, surrendered and connected you can do all things through Christ Jesus. And when you chose your own way….my grace is sufficient. Be surrendered and connected, and try this today as you attempt to walk in My light; delight yourself in Me. Simply be surrendered, connected and delighted. Through Christ Jesus, I am always delighted with you.”