Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Youth in Christ's style

Bible Reading: Matthew 19:16-22

Key verse:  

21  Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.

DEVOTION

The encounter between Jesus and the rich young man, recorded in Matthew 19:16-22, presents a profound challenge to genuine discipleship. This wealthy, morally upright individual approached Jesus, seeking to know what "good thing" he must do to inherit eternal life. He embodied the tension of the devout, claiming to have kept the commandments from his youth, yet his follow-up question, "What do I still lack?" revealed a deep spiritual emptiness that his outward obedience and public piety could not fill.
Jesus responded by targeting the deepest attachment in the man’s heart, commanding him, "go, sell your possessions and give to the poor... and come, follow Me." This extreme demand was not an arbitrary rule for salvation, nor was it a new legalism. Rather, it functioned as a precise diagnostic tool exposing the man’s true master. His great possessions had become an idol, replacing God as his ultimate source of security and worth. True perfection, or completeness in Christ, is therefore found not in adhering to a legalistic checklist of rules, but in a radical and total surrender to His Lordship, trading self-reliance for a relational commitment. Jesus was calling him to move beyond morality and into a personal journey of discipleship.
The young man's inability to comply and his subsequent sadness as he walked away highlight the tragedy of prioritizing earthly comfort over a heavenly calling. This narrative serves as a timeless reminder that while good deeds and ethical living are valuable, nothing can compete with the absolute, uncompromising call to follow Jesus. Genuine discipleship demands an honest assessment of our own hidden attachments, urging us to maintain a constant willingness to place Christ first, no matter the personal cost or the security we may have to relinquish.

PRAYER

: Lord Jesus, reveal any hidden idols that keep me from following You completely. Grant me the courage to choose Your call over my comfort and possessions today.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The Rich Young Man had a good checklist, but had an idol in his heart. Let us ask ourselves: What is the one thing Jesus would ask us to drop?

Anish Thomas 
Mar Thoma Church of Greater Washington 

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