Today’s 333 Devotional: “Go Hard, or Go Home”

While Jesus was traveling in the area of the Jordan River, he was approached by a rich young ruler who asked, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” And Jesus responded, “Keep the commandments.”

Being taken back at Jesus statement, the young ruler asked which commandments, and Jesus replied, “You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, honor your father and your mother, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Feeling pretty good about himself the young ruler said, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” And Jesus said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” And it says that the rich young ruler left sorrowful (Matthew 19:16-22).

Now, this story is not meant to be a sell all you have and give it to the church sort of teaching, but rather, what Jesus is telling this young man and us is, “Go Hard, or Go Home.”

This was a tough thing Jesus told this young man. What we could say is that Jesus was not what you might call seeker sensitive. Jesus gave the entrance requirements right up front. For all those who were seeking after God, Jesus forced them right at the beginning to consider what it took to be a disciple.

Jesus loved people and His desire was that all come to eternal life, but He didn’t sugar coat what that would look like. Jesus was neither tame nor predictable when it came to the words He spoke. But everything Jesus said was a call to wholehearted devotion to God.

Like when He said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)