August 2, 2026 -- Matthew 19:23 -- What's Keeping You?

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, 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.” Matthew 19:23 ESV
 
We need to know that our misery is anchored in this fact: that we are separated from God. It may be riches that interfere with our relationship with God. Or self-love. Or sex. Or fitting in. Or anger. Or thinking that we know better than God what it is we need in our lives. Our misery is rooted in the fact that we are alienated from God. Though we know He exists, we can’t reach Him on our own. We are alienated from our neighbours. Even the people we love most in our lives are subjected to our fits of temper and anger, angst and impatience. Finally, we are miserable in ourselves. We are to love others as we love ourselves, but we are so self-abusive in our words, our way of life, and our addictions.
 
What a beautiful statement Jesus made, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”. Salvation is completely impossible for us to achieve. But God has given us the treasure of heaven. Jesus Christ, Who obeyed the all the requirements of the Law perfectly, is our righteousness. When in our abject misery we see the glories of Jesus and know that our Father in heaven has sent Him, like the Good Shepherd, to go after us, lost sheep that we are, we are humbly, happily, ready to receive Him. He is then the treasure that is beyond all description. In life and in death, we are His. We are guarded safely in Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.
 
Dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, this is why our worship services often have prayers of confession included in them. The Word highlights our sins. When these are thrown into the light of the Word, we see how vile and wicked we really are. This is something we shrink from. We basically think we’re fine. We can easily pick a dozen people we know for sure are far worse than we ever could be. What we’re conveniently forgetting is the fact that we’re not able to go through the eye of a needle. Though we’re much smaller than a camel, our inability to save ourselves is just as obvious.
 
When we see how great our sin and misery are, we are convinced of the lovingkindness of our God. We realize that He really is the One Who has given us the treasure of heaven. In view of His great love and kindness, we leave our sinful ways and follow Jesus. In following Him is fullness of joy.
 
Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Thank You for the gift of Jesus Christ, in Whom we have the fullness of salvation. Greater even than that salvation, is that we get to know You, the Triune God Who loves us. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/RZNOYmwiKCs?si=2cSwOPOPb0fV3XdN Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
 

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