November 7, 2021 -- Matthew 19:29 -- Possessed by what or whom?

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
Matthew 19:29 ESV

You might know the context of this verse, but perhaps not. A rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to keep the commandments. The man, without even flinching apparently, said he’d kept all these commandments. Rather than rebuke him directly, Jesus exposed his spiritual blindness. He said to the man, “Sell what you possess and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Matthew 19:21). The man left sorrowful because he had great possessions. Jesus exposed the man to himself. The rich young ruler was violating the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before Me”.

Some of us reading this devotional could easily sell what we have, because we are not owned by our possessions. However, such persons are placing their family before God—they would do anything for their family—but would not do everything commanded by the LORD our God. Maybe you are not rich, not needing to sell possessions, but you are coveting, wanting what others have, and wanting it with such ferocity that it is becoming all consuming.

Notice this, in our passage and in the words Jesus spoke to the rich young ruler, Jesus is issuing a clear invitation: come, follow Me. Perhaps, when reading the Bible, you thought to yourself, how could the people of His day be so blind? There He is standing right in front of that person! The Son of God and the Son of Man, the radiance of the Father’s glory, standing right in front of that person--how could the rich young ruler refuse Him? If I were there, I’d follow Him. Indeed, in those days, Jesus was veiled in flesh. In those days He was not handsome, He was not a wealthy leader of society, He was not what anyone would expect. It required the eyes of faith to see Him. So too today. The Scripture is filled with the invitation of Jesus: “give up whatever it is that owns you, and come, follow Me”. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart, do not refuse Him. Even if no one else can see what you see, follow Him. He is splendid, worthy, He is our soul's only true delight.

Jesus, Friend of Sinners, how easily and how frequently You have issued the invitation to leave possessions and false gods. Forgive our deafness. Forgive us our excuse-generating mouths. Today, by the Spirit’s powerful presence within us, help us to leave all lies and false paths, so that we will respond to You, and follow You wherever You will lead, until we are home with You for eternity. Amen.

https://youtu.be/KkRTfrLBii0