19 August 2013 - if you would be perfect

19 August 2013 - if you would be perfect

He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good?
There is only One who is good.

Jesus says this to everyone who, in accord with modern trends, acknowledges him as a so-called "good person" but not the unique and necessary savior of the world.  When we look at the goodness of Jesus we can't help but acknowledge that it is supernatural in origin.  Seeing such superior goodness we realize that we are incapable of such flawless integrity.

We get nervous when someone like this calls us to accountability.

If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

When we get nervous we try to mitigate the demands.

He asked him, “Which ones?”

Jesus doesn't immediately scare the young man away with the impossible.  He respects that growth is a process.

“All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?”

Jesus and the young man both know that he desires more.  We all have the desire for holiness written into our DNA.  We are not content with mere human levels of goodness.  And yet we have such a hard time coming to terms with the prescriptions of the gospel for our condition.

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go,
sell what you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad,
for he had many possessions.

Not that we all have to give away our possessions.  But holiness does mean prizing Jesus about all our joys.  It does mean living in the world but not being of the world.  It does mean surrendering our ego and pride.  And that is not easy.  It isn't even humanly possible.  But what the LORD commands he also empowers.

We must cooperate with this grace.  The LORD gives us the power to uproot sin in our lives.  It is to us to use this power.  If we do not do so we will not experience the freedom for which we long.

He allowed them to fall into the power of their enemies round about
whom they were no longer able to withstand.

Try as we might, we won't find success or meaning in such a state.

Whatever they undertook, the LORD turned into disaster for them,

Just as we read yesterday, we must be willing to place God even before all our own family.  We must cut ourselves off from anything in this life that takes us away from God.

They did not exterminate the peoples,
as the LORD had commanded them,
But mingled with the nations
and learned their works.
They served their idols,
which became a snare for them.

This is not to say that we don't have fellowship with sinners.  Jesus clearly does this.  But when they are closed to the gospel and are a source of temptation for us it is may be necessary to distances ourselves from them.  We know all too well our own weakness.  We are all to ready to fall in the face of temptation.

But when the judge died,
they would relapse and do worse than their ancestors,

Even though we fall again and again we rejoice that the LORD is always ready to hear our cry and forgive us.

Many times did he rescue them,
but they embittered him with their counsels.
Yet he had regard for their affliction
when he heard their cry.