Thursday, February 02, 2006

Quiet Time - Mark 10

17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’
20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Mark 10:17-22 NKJV
A couple of things jumped out at me when I read this section of text.

Jesus reviews the commandments with the young man. The young man believes he has kept these commands his entire life. Our flesh can be so deceiving; our pride so strong. I know I can be as arrogant and deluded as he.

Stuff. I know my (our) stuff gets in the way. There is too much laundry, too many toys, too many things to do. It can all get in the way of my relationship with Jesus. I get overwhelmed by my stuff and the things that I have to do. I can't imagine that I have time to spend in the Word, yet I spend my time doing unprofitable things.

It's time to declutter - physically and emotionally.