. . . Jesus . . . said to him, ’You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have . . . and come, follow Me.’ But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich —Luke 18:22-23
Have I ever heard Jesus say something difficult and unyielding to me? Has He said something personally to me to which I have deliberately listened— not something I can explain for the sake of others, but something I have heard Him say directly to me? This man understood what Jesus said. He heard it clearly, realizing the full impact of its meaning, and it broke his heart. He did not go away as a defiant person, but as one who was sorrowful and discouraged. He had come to Jesus on fire with zeal and determination, but the words of Jesus simply froze him. Instead of producing enthusiastic devotion to Jesus, they produced heartbreaking discouragement. And Jesus did not go after him, but let him go. Our Lord knows perfectly well that once His word is truly heard, it will bear fruit sooner or later. What is so terrible is that some of us prevent His words from bearing fruit in our present life. I wonder what we will say when we finally make up our minds to be devoted to Him on that particular point? One thing is certain— He will never throw our past failures back in our faces.
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August 17, 2011 (Reprise Journal Entry) JDV
I have denied you and doubted, and you love me anyway. I have refused to hear your loving voice, and rejected your soft and clear direction. And You love me anyway. The notion that you love me regardless of what I might say or do is mind boggling. I thought I had to “measure up”. And as I consider this amazing truth, my love for you and desire to follow you becomes firmly imbedded in my heart and soul. Just considering this truth somehow transforms me…again and again.
And God says…”I knew the rich young ruler would be stopped in his tracks over my answer to his question; just as you are often stopped in your tracks by my direction. However, both you and the rich young ruler have life more abundantly when you choose to follow Me. You can live a transformed life. When you hold onto your notions of money, what is sufficient and required for your life you, in affect are saying, “God, I will follow my own notions and my natural inclinations.” When you do this you decide NOT to receive My supernatural abundance and grace. Trust in Me with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding and I will make your paths straight. Seek first My Kingdome, which is Jesus, and all these things will be added unto you.
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