True Discipleship: Surrendering to Christ's Call

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler as recounted in Matthew 19:16-25. This narrative challenges our understanding of what it means to follow Christ and the nature of true discipleship. The young man, despite his moral and financial wealth, approached Jesus with a question that revealed a deeper spiritual longing: "What do I still lack?" His life seemed complete by worldly standards, yet he sensed an emptiness that wealth and moral rectitude could not fill.

Jesus' response was radical and unsettling. He instructed the young man to sell all his possessions and follow Him, highlighting that true discipleship demands total surrender and a reorientation of our values. This encounter reveals that Christianity is not merely an addition to our lives but a transformative force that requires us to relinquish our deepest attachments and idols. The young man's grief upon hearing Jesus' words underscores the difficulty of this call, as it challenges our natural inclinations to seek security and identity in material wealth and personal achievements.

The story also dismantles common assumptions about religion. It is not about adding a spiritual dimension to an already full life or performing good deeds to earn God's favor. Instead, it is about recognizing our inability to achieve righteousness on our own and accepting the grace offered through Christ. Jesus' demand for the young man to give up his wealth was not a universal command but a personal challenge to address the specific idol in his life. This teaches us that Jesus knows our hearts intimately and calls us to surrender whatever stands between us and a full relationship with Him.

Ultimately, the passage invites us to see Jesus as our true treasure. When we understand that we are His treasure, engraved on His heart, it transforms our perspective on wealth, identity, and purpose. This realization frees us from the grip of materialism and self-reliance, allowing us to live in the freedom and joy that comes from being fully known and loved by God.

Key Takeaways:

1. Encountering the Real Jesus: Meeting the real Jesus is always a transformative experience. It demands more from us than we expect and offers more than we can imagine. This encounter challenges us to either submit to His lordship or walk away, but it never leaves us indifferent. [08:16]

2. Christianity as a Revolution: Christianity is not something we add to our lives; it is a complete transformation. It requires us to start afresh, breaking down old structures to make way for a new life in Christ. This revolutionizes our approach to God and life itself. [12:16]

3. The Illusion of Goodness: True goodness cannot be achieved through our efforts. Jesus challenges the notion that we can earn our way to God by highlighting our inherent inability to fulfill the law perfectly. This realization leads us to rely on His grace. [14:17]

4. Personal Surrender: Jesus calls us to surrender our deepest attachments and dreams, recognizing that anything we place above Him becomes a destructive idol. This personal surrender is essential for true discipleship and spiritual freedom. [23:52]

5. Treasures in Heaven: Understanding that Jesus is our treasure in heaven changes our perspective on earthly possessions. When we see ourselves as His treasure, it liberates us from materialism and empowers us to live generously and joyfully. [29:57]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Singing Amazing Grace
- [00:53] - Introduction to Matthew 19:16-25
- [02:15] - The Rich Young Ruler's Moral and Financial Wealth
- [03:22] - The Illusion of Goodness and Prosperity
- [04:54] - The Rich Young Ruler's Spiritual Need
- [06:17] - The Grief of the Rich Young Ruler
- [07:45] - Encountering the Real Jesus
- [10:28] - Jesus Smashes Religious Assumptions
- [12:16] - Christianity as a Revolution
- [14:17] - The Illusion of Goodness
- [19:14] - Jesus Gets Personal
- [23:52] - Surrendering Our Dreams
- [29:57] - Treasures in Heaven
- [33:31] - Prayer and Conclusion

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Matthew 19:16-25

Observation Questions:
1. What question does the rich young ruler ask Jesus, and what does this reveal about his spiritual state? [01:27]
2. How does Jesus respond to the young man's claim of having kept all the commandments? What specific instruction does He give? [01:43]
3. What is the reaction of the young man to Jesus' instruction, and what does this indicate about his priorities? [01:54]
4. How do the disciples react to Jesus' teaching about wealth and entering the kingdom of God? [01:54]

Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Jesus' instruction to the young man to sell all his possessions suggest about the nature of true discipleship? [14:17]
2. How does the story of the rich young ruler challenge common assumptions about morality and prosperity in relation to God's favor? [03:22]
3. In what ways does Jesus' interaction with the young man illustrate the concept of personal surrender in the Christian faith? [23:52]
4. How does the idea of "treasures in heaven" redefine our understanding of wealth and success? [29:57]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually lacking despite having achieved worldly success. How did you address that feeling? [04:39]
2. What are some "idols" or attachments in your life that might be hindering your relationship with Jesus? How can you begin to surrender these to Him? [14:46]
3. Consider the concept of Christianity as a transformative force rather than an addition to life. How does this perspective challenge your current approach to faith? [12:16]
4. How can you cultivate a mindset that views Jesus as your true treasure, above material possessions and personal achievements? [30:11]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you rely on self-reliance rather than God's grace. What steps can you take to shift this reliance? [15:18]
6. How can understanding that you are God's treasure, engraved on His heart, change the way you view your identity and purpose? [32:22]
7. What practical steps can you take this week to live more generously and joyfully, free from the grip of materialism? [30:55]

Devotional

Day 1: Encountering the Transformative Jesus
Meeting Jesus demands a radical transformation, challenging us to submit to His lordship or walk away. This encounter is never indifferent, as it requires us to confront our deepest values and priorities. The rich young ruler's story in Matthew 19:16-25 illustrates this profound challenge. Despite his moral and financial wealth, he sensed an emptiness that only Jesus could address. Jesus' call to sell all possessions and follow Him was a personal challenge to the young man's heart, revealing that true discipleship demands total surrender and a reorientation of values. This encounter invites us to see Jesus as our true treasure, transforming our perspective on wealth, identity, and purpose. [08:16]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself resisting the transformative call of Jesus? How can you begin to submit this area to His lordship today?


Day 2: Christianity as a Complete Transformation
Christianity is not an addition to our lives but a complete transformation that requires us to start afresh. The encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler challenges the notion of simply adding a spiritual dimension to an already full life. Instead, it calls for a revolution in our approach to God and life itself. This transformation involves breaking down old structures and making way for a new life in Christ. It is a call to relinquish our deepest attachments and idols, recognizing that anything we place above Jesus becomes a destructive force in our lives. [12:16]

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: What old structures or habits in your life need to be broken down to make way for a new life in Christ? How can you begin this transformation today?


Day 3: The Illusion of Self-Achieved Goodness
True goodness cannot be achieved through our efforts, as Jesus highlights our inherent inability to fulfill the law perfectly. The rich young ruler's story dismantles the illusion that we can earn our way to God through moral rectitude or good deeds. Instead, it points to our need for grace and the recognition of our inability to achieve righteousness on our own. This realization leads us to rely on the grace offered through Christ, understanding that our efforts are insufficient without His transformative power. [14:17]

"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself trying to earn God's favor through your efforts? How can you shift your focus to rely more on His grace today?


Day 4: Personal Surrender to Jesus
Jesus calls us to surrender our deepest attachments and dreams, recognizing that anything we place above Him becomes a destructive idol. The rich young ruler's grief upon hearing Jesus' words underscores the difficulty of this call, as it challenges our natural inclinations to seek security and identity in material wealth and personal achievements. This personal surrender is essential for true discipleship and spiritual freedom, allowing us to live in the freedom and joy that comes from being fully known and loved by God. [23:52]

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" (Luke 9:23, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?


Day 5: Treasures in Heaven
Understanding that Jesus is our treasure in heaven changes our perspective on earthly possessions. When we see ourselves as His treasure, it liberates us from materialism and empowers us to live generously and joyfully. The rich young ruler's story invites us to see Jesus as our true treasure, transforming our perspective on wealth, identity, and purpose. This realization frees us from the grip of materialism and self-reliance, allowing us to live in the freedom and joy that comes from being fully known and loved by God. [29:57]

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: How does viewing Jesus as your true treasure change your perspective on your possessions and wealth? What is one practical step you can take today to live more generously and joyfully?

Quotes


When you talk to the real Jesus you are always shocked when you come up against his real message, you're always disturbed. You're always disturbed. In fact, I'll go this far, even this is the way you grow as a Christian. When you meet the real message of the gospel you always find two things that are shocking. [00:08:05]

Christianity is not something you add. Christianity is more like an explosion that destroys everything you have to make way for something new. Christianity isn't something you add. Christianity is starting completely afresh. Remembered Nicodemus, he was also he wasn't a rich young man, he was a rich old man. [00:12:19]

Jesus Christ says I want you to know that it's getting to God is not a matter of goodness. Nobody can be good enough, nobody can be moral enough. And then look at the furious logic he says take all of your wealth a rich man and sell it all and give it to the poor and follow me. [00:14:16]

The real line going down the center of humanity in its attitude and its stance toward God is not the horizontal but the vertical. The vertical is the real one it cuts across the horizontal on either side because no matter how good you are on this side, Jesus says you're not, it's only relative. [00:18:05]

Jesus Christ comes all the way in and says underneath it all there is a power struggle that you have with God over your dreams. Carousel musical there's one place where one of the characters Carrie Pitt bridge sings a song about how she can't wait to be married and have children. [00:22:46]

The point is anything that you have decided will give me a life of joy and power without God becomes a monster. It does drive you, it takes you out. Jesus looks at this and says this is your monster. Jesus says anything that the reason he the reason he loves him when he says that. [00:26:00]

The reason your life is out of control is because you're afraid of losing control of God. He says give it to me and let me decide how much money you're going to have. Put me first, be willing to part with anything, anything change your attitude toward this destroy the psychological umbilical cord. [00:26:24]

Money can be a monster. Money is so dangerous spiritually that even not having it can destroy you because of your envy and your desire and you met you can kill yourself to get it but the point is it's not the money or the sex or the work purse as such but it's money or sex that comes before Jesus. [00:27:21]

Treasure in heaven it means these two things I have to really be brief here. Number one it means to see that he is your treasure in heaven what Jesus is really saying is I want you to give away everything what he means is I want you to see that if you have me and only me you're rich. [00:29:54]

If you don't see that I alone am good but that as your savior if you rely on me for your standing before God you become good in me you'll see that I'm your treasure, I'm your righteousness, I'm your record before God and if you have that then it changes your attitude toward everything. [00:30:40]

If you make my son your treasure that makes you my treasure. Now when I see you I see an absolute beauty I see you radiant in Christ I see you righteous in Christ I dote on you I gaze on you is that the most exhilarating thought you can possibly have is that if you live in holy consciousness. [00:32:18]

Let's pray our Father we ask that you would teach us not just how to be free from greed but how to be free period by seeing what your son has asked us for everything we look at you and we say Oh Lord Jesus Christ we thought you were a great teacher we thought you were a great moralist. [00:33:31]

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Transcript
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