Let Go and Follow

Read Mark 10:17-22

I have long struggled to understand the point of the Ten Commandments today. Some in the church act like they are a list that keeps you in or out of heaven. Others make lofty claims that they don’t matter anymore. I appreciate that they reveal what is essential to our Creator. When the rich young ruler asks about eternal life, Jesus responds with a portion of the Ten Commandments. I don’t believe this is accidental. Jesus is trying to point out the deeper meaning of the commandments. Of course, what he listed is morally possible. The man likely did live a life that met those requirements. But he didn’t necessarily do it out of the right motives of simply loving God and finding total satisfaction in Him. We may not have riches in this life, but we likely have other things we struggle to relinquish to surrender to Christ fully. It could be a relationship, food, social media, games, or something that brings us temporary joy. These things might lead us to miss the riches of walking with our savior today. If we aren’t careful, we may remain connected to them instead of Christ like the rich young ruler. 

Pause and Pray

Spend some time looking at the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. 

Note the heart of these commandments and how they should impact your life as more than a checklist. 

Lord, draw us nearer to you and empower us to let go of anything that keeps us from following you. Amen

Walk in the Kingdom

What will you surrender this week to walk more closely with Christ?