Everything That Hinders Love
(5 minutes)
As Jesus started on his way, a man came running up to him. Kneeling down in front of him, he cried out, "Good Teacher, what one thing am I required to do to gain eternal life?" Jesus responded, "Why do you call me good? Only God is truly good. You already know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give a false testimony, do not cheat, and honor your father and mother.'" The man said to Jesus, "Teacher, I have carefully obeyed these laws since my youth." Jesus fixed his gaze upon the man, with tender love, and said to him, "Yet there is still one thing in you lacking. Go, sell all that you have and give the money to the poor. Then all of your treasure will be in heaven. After you've done this, come back and walk with me." Completely shocked by Jesus' answer, he turned and walked away very sad, for he was extremely rich. (Mark 10:17-22)
The rich, young ruler is a product of what religion told him to do. On Sunday, Pastor Tim said, "Religion is real good at cleaning the outside of the cup, but it has no power to clean the inside of the cup." Religion had not prepared this rich, young ruler to encounter the presence of God in a way that would produce intimacy and honor in his heart. Religion only produced regret as he walked away from the very presence of God, in the flesh.
Jesus, getting to the heart of the matter, asks this rich, young ruler to go and sell all that he owned and give the money away to the poor. Why does Jesus ask him to do this? Because He needs the money? No! He doesn't even want the money. He wants the heart of this rich, young ruler and Jesus knew exactly what he was prioritizing over intimacy with Him. He was absolutely shocked to hear Jesus ask this. Why? Could it be that the accomplishments that religion pointed at as successful in his life, the faithful law-keeping that he probably believed was the root of his wealth and status, were really just things that were getting in the way of him having a real relationship with Yahweh? The things that religion propped up his entire life, Jesus is suddenly asking him to remove. What would your response be?
Pastor Tim said this on Sunday: "Imagine your whole life, religion told you that your identity is in your influence, in your money, and how you keep the commandments. Completely shocked by Jesus' answer, he turned and walked away sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus just put His finger on the one thing that he was unwilling to walk away from."
For years at The Wilderness Place, we've heard that "Yahweh is coming after everything that hinders love." This is what we are talking about. This is Jesus coming after something that was hindering intimacy. Just like the rich, young ruler, it will likely be things, people, ideas, and opinions (even some really great things like ministries and causes) that we are putting before Him. Things that we may not even be aware of before He comes with tender love to address it. He knows exactly what we prioritize above Him and His tender love and compassion will not rest until those things are removed. His love is a consuming fire. He is jealous for His own.
Let's take an honest question into our conversation with Yahweh today.
Abba, is there something in my life that, if you asked me to give it away, would cause me to walk away from Your presence shocked and sad?
Abba, would you come and take me by the hand? Would you lead me out of everything that hinders our love affair, that hinders our intimacy? I've gotten close enough to you to know that you are good. You are perfect love. You are pure, radiant light with not one trace of darkness in You at all. I can trust Your goodness to lead me out. I want my heart to be fully convinced, until You are my One and Only. We say, "Yes, and I do!"
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