#1233. The heart-changing miracle of salvation (26/2/24)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (Posted each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) as we continue in our Luke, Exploring Who Jesus is series.

From Luke 18:24-27, let’s reflect on how salvation is impossible through human effort. Only God, through Christ, grants cleansing and new birth, leading to a new life.

Luke 18:24–27

You can listen to this devotional below (It’s also available on Spotify on the Community Church Putney podcast)

https://youtu.be/ILce5FULuIQ

‘Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” (Luke 18:24-27)

Luke 18:24–27

A camel cannot go through the eye of a needle!

Jesus reveals the impossible nature of salvation—none of us can cleanse ourselves from sin or renew our own hearts. In this passage, He specifically highlights how difficult it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. But why does He single out the wealthy? Unlike today, where wealth is often met with skepticism or criticism, people in Jesus’ time viewed riches as a sign of God's blessing and wisdom. By declaring that even the rich—those seemingly favoured by God—cannot save themselves, Jesus is making a profound point: salvation is impossible for everyone apart from God’s grace. No one, rich or poor, can earn their way into the Kingdom. Salvation is entirely the work of God.

Who then can be saved?

Jesus’ challenge provokes a stunned response: “Who then can be saved?” If even the rich ruler—who has been devoted to God, kept His commandments since childhood, and lived an exemplary life—is outside the Kingdom, what hope is there for anyone? He embodies what many today might call ‘cultural Christianity’—faithful to tradition, morally upright, and outwardly successful. Yet Jesus makes it clear: salvation is not about respectability or religious performance. Self-salvation is impossible. We don’t need mere goodness; we need new life. We must be born again!"

The impossible is possible with God!

Thankfully, Jesus offers hope. He declares, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Through the cross, God can cleanse anyone who comes to Him with childlike faith, fully dependent on Jesus. Only God can accomplish what human effort never could—giving us a new heart and new birth. The rich ruler’s self-discipline could not make him love God above all else (including money), but God can. Only He can transform our hearts, enabling us to submit our lives fully to His service.

Let’s pray together:

“I thank you for the miracle of my salvation. I could never have entered your Kingdom without your grace. I’m sorry when I’ve believed that certain types of people are more loved by God because of outward things. I thank you that impossible things, like salvation, are possible to you. Please lead me to bring others into the miracle of new birth. Amen.”