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 18:24-27, let’s reflect on how salvation is impossible through human effort. Only God, through Christ, grants cleansing and new birth, leading to a new life.
You can listen to this devotional below (It’s also available on Spotify on the Community Church Putney podcast)
‘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.” 26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” (Luke 18:24-27)
A camel cannot go through the eye of a needle!
Jesus reveals the impossible nature of salvation—none of us can cleanse ourselves from sin or renew our own hearts. In this passage, He specifically highlights how difficult it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. But why does He single out the wealthy? Unlike today, where wealth is often met with skepticism or criticism, people in Jesus’ time viewed riches as a sign of God's blessing and wisdom. By declaring that even the rich—those seemingly favoured by God—cannot save themselves, Jesus is making a profound point: salvation is impossible for everyone apart from God’s grace. No one, rich or poor, can earn their way into the Kingdom. Salvation is entirely the work of God.
Who then can be saved?
Jesus’ challenge provokes a stunned response: “Who then can be saved?” If even the rich ruler—who has been devoted to God, kept His commandments since childhood, and lived an exemplary life—is outside the Kingdom, what hope is there for anyone? He embodies what many today might call ‘cultural Christianity’—faithful to tradition, morally upright, and outwardly successful. Yet Jesus makes it clear: salvation is not about respectability or religious performance. Self-salvation is impossible. We don’t need mere goodness; we need new life. We must be born again!"
The impossible is possible with God!
Thankfully, Jesus offers hope. He declares, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Through the cross, God can cleanse anyone who comes to Him with childlike faith, fully dependent on Jesus. Only God can accomplish what human effort never could—giving us a new heart and new birth. The rich ruler’s self-discipline could not make him love God above all else (including money), but God can. Only He can transform our hearts, enabling us to submit our lives fully to His service.
Let’s pray together:
“I thank you for the miracle of my salvation. I could never have entered your Kingdom without your grace. I’m sorry when I’ve believed that certain types of people are more loved by God because of outward things. I thank you that impossible things, like salvation, are possible to you. Please lead me to bring others into the miracle of new birth. Amen.”
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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