The Kingdom of God is not for sale

 

June 10, 2020

 

Mark 10:23-31

 

And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”   And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!   It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”   And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?”   Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”   Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.”   Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.   But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

 

The world is going through a Pandemic and it has not brought out the best in the human race.  In the USA the lack of leadership at State and Local government has exposed the true heart of many governors and mayors. Many have shown their hate for the Christian Church, many have tried to expand power that exceeds their office, and many have just been outright goofballs.  We the people need to do a better job of picking leaders.  

 

But the one thing that has shown up in people who say they are Christ-followers is the thing Jesus tells us often do not fear.  In my opinion, it is not the Church's best hour, people who go by the name Christian have been fearful of losing their wealth, and many have locked themselves in their homes fearful of dying.  If you have health problems, I am not referring to you in these comments.  

 

I can state before man and God Jan & I have not allowed the amount of money we are losing to be a concern, nor have we been fearful of dying, if I recall to die is gain and to live is to keep on keeping on with being a follower of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and God.  

 

I’ve shared often that my flesh is not good, I like to be noticed, to be chosen, and to stand in the front of the line, but each day I choose to put others first, to be noticed by 
God and not by man, and yet some days I find that old flesh has me wanting you to think more of me than both God and I know to be true, and I wonder do you understand your flesh?  If we were giving a test are you able to say you have not been fearful of death or loss in this time of the Pandemic? 

 

Now I have not done all that well with those lawless and the greed I’ve seen on the local news, as mom always said a wrong done does not give you the right to do wrong.  If there was ever a time to humble ourselves and pray it is now, we need the Church to awaken in the authority of Jesus Christ.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice