Jesus First

We place great value on our family, our intellect, and our money. All these things are meant to enrich our lives and help us find our place in the world. But Jesus said that we must be willing to give all those things up in order to be saved. Impossible to do? So how then can we be saved?


Scripture: Mark 10:17-27

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knee before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good – except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”


Renewing Reflections

It is our prayer that Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon Walking Through Life With Jesus delivered on Christian Crusaders April 9, 2008:

Life is changed when we walk with Jesus. If you do not believe it, ask St. Paul in Rome as he is awaiting martyrdom, Martin Luther in Wittenberg as he is waiting to be tried, or George Washington at Valley Forge in the midst of battle. Ask Clarence Thomas, who wrote while waiting to be confirmed by the United States Senate, “The more hopeless things appeared, the more vulnerable I felt, the more I turned to God’s comforting embrace. Over time my focus became primarily God centered.”


A Quick Way to Start Your Day on an Uplifting Note

ChristianCrusaders.org features a daily devotion, front and center on the site’s home page, where you can immediately find food for spiritual thought anytime you need it. Then visit the Faith Links page for further Bible helps!


On the Light Side

Moving On

A rich man was near death, and he felt very grieved, because he had worked so hard for his money and wanted to take it with him to heaven. So he began to pray that he might be able to take some of his wealth with him. An angel heard his plea and appeared to him, “Sorry, but you can’t take your wealth with you.”

The man implored the angel to speak to God to see if He might bend the rules. The man continued to pray that his wealth could follow him. The angel reappeared and informed the man that God decided to allow him to take one suitcase with him. Overjoyed, the man gathered his largest suitcase, filled it with pure gold bars, and placed it beside his bed.

Soon afterward the man died and showed up at the Gates of Heaven to greet St. Peter. Seeing the suitcase Peter said, “Hold on. You can’t bring that in here!” But the man explained to him that he had permission and asked him to verify his story with the Lord.

Sure enough, Peter checked and came back saying, “You’re right. You are allowed one carry-on bag, but I’m supposed to check its contents before letting it through.”

Peter opened the suitcase to inspect the worldly items the man found too precious to leave behind and exclaimed, “You brought pavement?!!!”