#1232. In case you missed it… (24/2/24)

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 18:18-25, let’s reflect on how Jesus repeats the vital teaching that salvation cannot be earned but is the gift of God.

Luke 18:18–25

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

https://youtu.be/DQE8fVY2S1c

‘A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honour your father and mother.’” 21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 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.” (Luke 18:18-25)

Luke 18:18–25

Jesus repeats Himself for good reason

I hope we’ve noticed how Jesus, the perfect teacher, keeps repeating Himself. He keeps pressing home the dangers of pride and self-righteousness, and the need for humility that seeks salvation in Christ alone. It teaches us that we, daily, need to come back to the gospel and its power:  ‘The gospel is not just the ABCs but the A to Z of the Christian life. It is inaccurate to think the gospel is what saves non-Christians, and then Christians mature by trying hard to live according to biblical principles. It is more accurate to say that we are saved by believing the gospel, and then we are transformed in every part of our minds, hearts, and lives by believing the gospel more and more deeply as life goes on’ (Tim Keller)

Only God is good

When the rich ruler addresses Jesus as “Good Teacher,” Jesus responds, “Why do you call me good? No one is good—except God alone.” While this points to Jesus’ divinity, His primary aim is to challenge the man’s self-righteousness. The ruler approaches Jesus assuming his own goodness, but Jesus redirects him to the absolute goodness and holiness that only God has. By doing so, He urges the man to examine his misplaced confidence and measure himself against God’s perfect standard so as to be humbled and seek mercy.

What must I do?

This man assumes that he can do what is required to warrant eternal life from God. To this, Jesus seeks to have him reflect on his performance of God’s laws. The man, revealing his pride, assures Jesus that he has kept all the commands since childhood! However, Jesus knows that he’s fooling himself. Jesus knows that this man is blinkered. He has a proverbial elephant in the room that he just can bring into focus- this man idolises wealth!

You still lack one thing

Jesus reveals to this man his failure and sin of greed, as he challenges him:

“You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

This is not to be taken as a command that all Christians are to give everything away and live in poverty! Whilst every Christian is to allow God to be Lord of their wallet, this is a specific challenge to reveal this man’s sin of greed.

Despite his outward obedience to God’s laws, Jesus exposes the rich ruler’s true heart—he loves money more than God.

Have we had our blinkers removed? Are we self-aware? Have we allowed the Word of God to shine on us and reveal our sin? Jesus reveals our sin firstly, so we can come to Him for forgiveness and salvation. Secondly, He continues to reveal our sin - greed, fear, gossip, lust, hate, unfaithfulness… - so we can repent and do what Jesus invites this man to do, “come, follow me.”

Let’s pray together

“Lord Jesus, You are my Saviour. I’ve broken your Law. I’ve failed in so many ways and continue to do so. I thank you that you want us to have child-like faith that trusts in you alone for salvation. Again, I say, thank you for saving me.”