CHECK YOUR CAMEL, FRIEND!

April 13th, 2023

SCRIPTURE: “ [Lord] The law of Thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” Psalm 119:72

And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, "How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “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.” And they were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?” Mark 10:23-26

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” 2 Corinthians 8:9

Whether materially wealthy or materially wanton, physically capable or physically impaired, situationally well-off or situationally challenged, God permits this life as the platform by which He is received as our ultimate treasure, which is prompting the same manner of pursuit. The hand of blessing confers first, an invisible work upon the heart and soul of a man, by which we’ve a sanctifying yearning, while yet contending with our mortal preferences, and our earthly passions. The call is to be yielded, knowing His faithfulness. His aching is that we intentionally reach for Him more than all else.

The rich young ruler, of Mark 10, found the invitation of Jesus to be a greater challenge to the
righteousness he presumed of himself. He could not reason to do what Jesus asked, and so he left Jesus, returning to his stuff, and the things of the world. Even the mechanics of religious application failed him, though an acceptable fit within society. Civility and manners benefit the community, even piety, but God desires the heart, and its ultimate expression of faithfulness; the secret places of the heart are not exempt.

“For you shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” [Exodus 34:14] “The Spirit which He has made to dwell in us jealously desires us.” James 4:5

As such, the unattainable is given to us freely, upon believing, upon trusting in Him. And for the
called, that is our dear and most principal work whereof all else is made wise, and all else is translated as ‘rich,’ by which God is exalted and Christ glorified. And so, should we possess little, or much, it is all about what we permit to possess us. Jesus, be my keeper! Prone to wander, let us all purpose to daily pause before the cross, and let our foundation and our banner be ‘Him crucified’ and ‘Him risen.’ Let us arise, and stand much as our beloved sister by the well who ‘left her water pot’ on meeting Jesus, acquiring a new thirst, saying ‘Come see a man... Is not this the Christ?’ John 4:28,29 Let us rejoice in “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:20 God has defined our wealth, and it is in Him...it is in His Word. Accept no substitute.

PRAYER: This heart, this heart so prone to slide requires Thine in which to hide ... so prone to fall, fix my embrace to joy the lighter chains of grace.
On being taught, this will I keep, throughout this season til I ‘sleep.’ Pray understanding guard this gaze, my heart abounding with Thy ways...
On being caught, let me stay so, with every righteous stop and go. Let understanding guard and guide, the wild transformed to now abide.
And should life’s testing find me slight, permit me rest upon Thy might, to tarry with faith past my own, with hope to lift me, as I’m grown.
Amen.
By Bro. Brockington