I’m A Good Person—What Do I Still Lack?

I received a meme from a good friend the other day, and it is so insightful I thought I’d share it with you. We live in an age when there is so much going on and we are so busy that we are apt to put off some really important things, like reading the bible and praying daily. My prayer for the church is that the world’s distractions would not keep us from fellowship with our Lord & Savior, our Pearl of Great Cost.

Now, on to our SOAP devotional!

Scripture: “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?”

Observation: this young man must have had some sense of godly devotion, for he states he has kept all of God’s laws Jesus spoke of. Yet, glory be to the Holy Spirit, he sensed his utter lack. He too, like the scribe who wanted a definition of “neighbor,” also asked Jesus which laws he should keep, perhaps wanting to justify himself and have some semblance of righteousness before God. But this young man, in his love for his wealth, showed in his heart he was breaking the first law—to love God with all his heart, mind, soul, & strength. For his love for wealth prevented him from following Jesus, who alone could save him from his sins and give him the righteousness he sensed he lacked.

Application: The entire life of the Christian is one of self-sacrifice–from the moment of salvation to finishing the race, we constantly sacrifice our wills, our desires, our goals, our friendships, our family ties, our time, our talents, our treasures, and our plans. Paul said, “I die daily.” Do I sacrifice daily those things I tend to grip tightly? I need to trust my Lord in all things & not worry about the consequences. Often times we contemplate the consequences and it holds us back from obedience. We automatically go to the negatives, instead of the positive aspects of laying down our wills, which Jesus assures us are storing up treasure in heaven and receiving his gift of eternal life hereafter this brief and fleeting earth-bound journey we all make.

Prayer: Lord, help my mind gravitate toward Your promises of rewards and blessings instead of automatically assuming the negatives. Help my focus be on You and eternity, not this brief time I have on earth. You tell us all to count the cost, the risks we all take for Your name’s sake, yet we are not to let those risks prevent us from loving You supremely, giving You first place in our lives. Help me not only to count the cost, but let me also count my blessings, which we all have through Your Son’s loving sacrifice for us. In His holy name, Amen.