Annihilation

 9/28/2020

Mark 10:21 “One thing thou lackest…come, take up the cross, and follow me.”

In life, we all have our crosses to bear, but none of them can hold a candle to the tree that Jesus became a living sacrifice on. He gave His very life to become the bridge to the Father and save our souls. The most profound and amazing act of love and grace ever.

In this part of scripture, Jesus is telling a young rich man to give away all he has and follow Him. Jesus also wants us to give everything that holds us captive over to Him in an act of obedience and release. Chambers writes, “Our Lord never puts personal holiness to the fore when He calls a disciple; He puts absolute annihilation of my right to myself and identification with Himself—a relationship with Himself in which there is no other relationship.” Jesus doesn’t want ANYTHING in my life to come before Him. Anything. No person, possession, amount of money, ideal, or philosophy should be placed above my relationship with Him. This is something that I must check often in my walk, because those things can slowly creep back in if I am not vigilant and obedient.

The young wealthy man was unwilling to give up the riches which he held so dear, and lost out on the greatest of all riches: a relationship with the Savior. How about you, dear reader? What are you holding onto so tightly that it prevents you from following Jesus? All we need to be is willing, and He will bless. How can such a thing be when it seems impossible? Jesus tells the disciples in Mark 10:27, “…With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Look to God, dear reader, for guidance and strength.