Coming And Going!

Sometimes a child will run into a house and back out of the house with the same intensity of excitement. Perhaps we have found ourselves coming to an activity in a certain manner, but leaving somewhat different. Have we ever gone someplace where we went in sad, but left joyful? Have we ever gone in dragging and left energized? Or has the opposite sometimes taken place? When it comes to our encounters with the teaching of Jesus, what impact does that have on us?

One encounter with Jesus is noted as follows:
"(17) 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." ( Mark 10:17-22 ESV)

As I read that text yesterday, I was struck by the great contrast between this man's coming and going. He came to Jesus with EAGERNESS. The text tells us he "ran up and knelt before" Jesus. Besides the EAGERNESS we see him displaying a sense of SUBMISSIVE HUMILITY as well. I think both of these characterize the manner in which we should draw to Jesus; EAGER to hear His teaching and HUMBLY SUBMIT to His wisdom. However, did you note how that EAGERNESS changed to sorrow in his going away? He did not leave with the excitement with which he had come. Though he came to learn something, he did not like the lesson he apparently needed. The "one thing" he "lacked" was left to remain between himself and following Jesus.

What about us? Are we open to what we need to hear? Are we EAGER TO HEAR what it is we still lack? Can we RUN TO THE WORD TO LEARN and then run with the same EAGERNESS IN LIFE TO PUT IT INTO PRACTICE? Though what we learn may not be what we expected, we can trust that it is what will bless us? May we continue in willingness to run and kneel before the Lord so that we can run on in life blessed in putting His Will into practice in our daily life.

Have a great day BLESSED BY EVERY ENCOUNTER WITH THE WORD!
Carl

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