Welcome to the Come to Jesus Daily Devotional, posted every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, as we continue our Luke: Exploring Who Jesus Is series.
From Luke 18:18-25, let’s reflect on how Jesus repeats the vital teaching that salvation cannot be earned but is the gift of God.
You can listen to this devotional below (It’s also available on Spotify on the Community Church Putney podcast)
‘A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honour your father and mother.’” 21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:18-25)
Jesus repeats Himself for good reason.
I hope we’ve noticed how Jesus, the perfect teacher, keeps repeating Himself. He keeps pressing home the dangers of pride and self-righteousness, and the need for humility that seeks salvation in Christ alone. It teaches us that we, daily, need to come back to the gospel and its power:‘The gospel is not just the ABCs but the A to Z of the Christian life. It is inaccurate to think the gospel is what saves non-Christians, and then Christians mature by trying hard to live according to biblical principles. It is more accurate to say that we are saved by believing the gospel, and then we are transformed in every part of our minds, hearts, and lives by believing the gospel more and more deeply as life goes on’ (Tim Keller)
Only God is good.
When the rich ruler addresses Jesus as “Good Teacher,” Jesus responds, “Why do you call me good? No one is good—except God alone.” While this points to Jesus’ divinity, His primary aim is to challenge the man’s self-righteousness. The ruler approaches Jesus assuming his own goodness, but Jesus redirects him to the absolute goodness and holiness that only God has. By doing so, He urges the man to examine his misplaced confidence and measure himself against God’s perfect standard so as to be humbled and seek mercy.
What must I do?
This man assumes that he can do what is required to warrant eternal life from God. To this, Jesus seeks to have him reflect on his performance of God’s laws. The man, revealing his pride, assures Jesus that he has kept all the commands since childhood! However, Jesus knows that he’s fooling himself. Jesus knows that this man is blinkered. He has a proverbial elephant in the room that he just can bring into focus— this man idolises wealth!
You still lack one thing.
Jesus reveals to this man his failure and sin of greed, as he challenges him:
“You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
This is not to be taken as a command that all Christians are to give everything away and live in poverty! Whilst every Christian is to allow God to be Lord of their wallet, this is a specific challenge to reveal this man’s sin of greed.
Despite his outward obedience to God’s laws, Jesus exposes the rich ruler’s true heart—he loves money more than God.
Have we had our blinkers removed? Are we self-aware? Have we allowed the Word of God to shine on us and reveal our sin? Jesus reveals our sin firstly, so we can come to Him for forgiveness and salvation. Secondly, He continues to reveal our sin— greed, fear, gossip, lust, hate, unfaithfulness…— so we can repent and do what Jesus invites this man to do, “come, follow me.”
Let’s pray together.
“Lord Jesus, You are my Saviour. I’ve broken your Law. I’ve failed in so many ways and continue to do so. I thank you that you want
Community Group Notes
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Note: Please make sure to allocate balanced time for the discussion, SIV, and prayer sections during your time together.
On Sunday, our message from Luke 18:18–30, titled The Impossible is Made Possible with God, focused on the account of the rich ruler. We see that salvation is the miracle of God that leads to wholehearted devotion and great reward.
Please read Luke 18:18-30 and discuss:
Did God speak to you about anything from Sunday’s message that would encourage others?
What does this account of the rich ruler teach about salvation?
Why does Jesus’ verdict about the impossibility of the rich entering the Kingdom of God shock this listening?
What does, and what doesn’t this teach about a Christian’s use of wealth? (See Luke 18:9-10)
What is the great reward that is promised for those who show sacrificial devotion, and how are we, often, the means of the fulfilment of this promise?
SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)
SIV - How does this section give us great hope for the salvation of anyone?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and Invited’ recently?
SIV - Spend some time together talking and praying about who and how you are seeking to bring your community to Jesus; alternatively, pray for the ‘people of peace’ that you regularly meet with.
Let’s pray together:
Let’s pray for one another based on our study, and bring before God any other needs or requests for prayer.
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