Wow, Amos, you’re really bringing out the new stuff today, dude!
Okay, so this is not a new truth but the reality of it may very well be new to one of us.
Basic Premises:
We believe what we want to believe.
We believe what we want to believe unless we let God change our minds.
We will not allow God to change our minds unless we trust him with that one thing.
That one thing is the area that either keeps you from God or if you know him keeps you from his abundance. And actually “that one thing” may shift to different areas of your life. I know it does with me. I sometimes fight God in this because I am either too stubborn or too afraid or too happy with my sin to trust him.
That one thing is that area of your life that God would change but he can’t because you (or I) will not trust him with the results. What we do is we highlight all the other things that we seem to be doing right. After all, let’s not focus on the negative. And God showers mercy and grace on us abundantly. But we come to certain places along the path where he draws our attention to “that one thing.”
Jesus looks at us, loves us, and directs our attention to “that one thing” so we can step forward in his abundance.
The following text in Mark gives an example. A man approached Christ. He had questions and answers concerning eternal life. He had part of it right. He knew some “Bible” and in his mind believed important texts concerning God and his relationship to the people around him.
Let’s look at the text and see how Jesus deals with him from his love for him.
Mark 10:17-22 ESV And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (18) And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. (19) You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'” (20) And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” (21) And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (22) Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Many people get so close to Christ but are rebuffed by that “one thing.”
Many Christians get so close to Christ’s abundance but are rebuffed by that “one thing.”
It takes faith, friend, and my how I am learning that as I deal with my severely disabled son. I don’t really want the lessons, would rather not go in this particular direction.
I would rather the fiery ordeal wasn’t fiery, something a little more tame.
But I have to trust God for “this one thing.”
