Experiencing The Love Of God

Mark 10 : 17 – 22, 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?" So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. 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.'" And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." 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." But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. NKJV

We’re living in a very interesting time in history. There are many people in today’s society who are much like this rich young ruler. They come to Jesus asking Him to save them from their sin; nevertheless, they aren’t willing to trust Him with their whole heart. If salvation and the gift of eternal life were based on obedience alone wouldn’t you think this young man would have qualified? After all, he kept all the commandments that Jesus required of him, even from his youth.

However, in order to have a relationship with God through Christ, you must be willing to love and place God first. Salvation isn’t just about obedience; rather, it’s about obeying the Lord from a heart that is filled with His love. Anyone can appear to be “religious” and even have the semblance of being obedient to God. Nevertheless, they are not saved because they will only do those “things” that don’t require trust.

God is love, and when we are saved by His love, we, too, will be motivated by the love of God in our hearts. When we obey from a heart filled with God’s love, then we will have NO problem sacrificing whatever God requires of us in order to fulfill His will. Jesus wanted this man to move beyond his own abilities and strength over into trusting in the Lord so that love would fill his heart. As we trust God and obey Him, even when our flesh nature won’t, He will in turn fill our hearts with His love and grace that will enable us to accomplish the task.

The young man in today’s scripture knew all about religion. However, he was unwilling to allow Jesus to fill his heart with love for God so that he could experience eternal life in his soul. As a result of his unwillingness to trust God at that level, he decided that his wealth was of greater value to him than everlasting life. How difficult is it for you to trust God with your possessions? When the Lord requires something that seems impossible for you to give up do you obey or do you ignore His will? Love requires personal sacrifice. It isn’t that your sacrifice is “buying salvation.” Instead, it is showing God that you do trust Him with your whole heart.

As I stated at the onset, there are many people in today’s society that seem to be religious, but they don’t trust God; nor do they operate through His love. As a result, they tend to walk away from Christ when He gives them the opportunity to love and trust Him with their heart. You see; apart from Christ and His love residing in our hearts, we are powerless to obey His will fully. Without faith, no one can please God. Let us love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, strength and body.

Experiencing His Life,
Pastor Asa Dockery