08/17/2025
Has Jesus ever asked something of us that we have resisted? Has he asked us to do something that shook us or that we convinced ourselves couldn't have possibly come from Him because it was just too hard or impossible for us to accomplish? Let’s think about this for a moment and then study on it this morning and as we go through our day in prayer.
“When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."”
Luke 18:22 ESV
When Jesus told the rich young ruler what He had to do to inherit eternal life it shook him and he went away disheartened because he had been asked to do the one thing that he wasn't prepared for. What would have happened if Jesus had just said "follow me?" Would the story have ended with this man following Jesus? How long would he have been successful in doing so? You see, in this story Jesus wasn't concerned with making this man poor... he simply wanted him to give up His false god before he became a disciple and went on to receive eternal life from the one true God. The Rich ruler already adhered to the law, but he had one problem... his money had come before God. Jesus doesn't ask us to do hard things to prove ourselves... He asks us to do them to perfect ourselves. We are not asked to do something frivolously or to just see if we will do it, He doesn’t ask us to do the hard things like what God did Abraham when He asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac. He doesn’t say, “that’s OK, I just wanted to see if you would actually do it", no, He asks us to do the hard things with the full expectation that we will do them... like Abraham was prepared to do.
"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?”
Luke 6:3, 46 ESV
There is no biblical example of a person being called to follow Jesus who wasn’t also expected to give up their old life. They were each changed forever. If you returned to who you were before you met Jesus, then you had to abandon Him in the process.
One of the closest examples I see of men about to abandon Jesus was on the road to Emmaus. In this account (which can be found in Luke 24:13-35) two men were returning home feeling defeated by the crucifixion of Christ, but Jesus went to them and gave them what they needed to shore up their belief... they were revitalized and once realizing they were with Jesus they returned immediately to Jerusalem in joy and with a new and increased zeal for serving Him. We learn through this story that the Lord may ask us to do hard things but He will not abandon us as we attempt to achieve them... He will strengthen us if we have honestly set out to do them in the first place.
I spoke earlier about Abraham seemingly receiving a reprieve from following through on God’s command that he sacrifice his son Isaac... however, in this account God wasn't proving to Himself that Abraham had faith, nor was He using him to foretell what was about to happen to His own Son Jesus, no, He was showing Isaac, every descendant of Abraham, and even Abraham himself, the depth of Abraham’s love and obedience to God and how he would place the Lord God first in his life. In the case of the rich young ruler there was a false god, wealth and power that was placed before God, but in the case of Abraham there was no such thing... God was already first, and through this story we come to understand the depth of that love and commitment which Abraham had.
So, when Jesus asks something of us, whether hard or not, it is asked to serve His purposes... not as a pointless challenge. When He asks something of us then the result will be that it perfects us to some measure. Has he asked something of you that now takes on a new meaning? Can you look back on it and say to yourself "I see the lesson in that!" Or has He asked and you convinced yourself that it couldn't have been His voice? If it is the later then perhaps you should revisit what you heard in the first place, pray for clarity, and then do exactly as you were asked… but only if it is truly His will and desire.
Hard lessons are learned by answering the hard challenges that God and Jesus give us. Do you have something that is serving as a false god in your life? Has Jesus spoken to you about it, but you have pretended not to hear Him or just turned and walked away defeated? Perhaps God has asked you to commit yourself to something that will take a lifetime to achieve, and you have doubted in your ability to do that, or maybe you have placed your own will before His by rationalizing that He couldn't have meant for you to literally do something because it just didn't make sense to you. Whatever He asked of you, I ask that you reconsider today... ask him about the lessons in those things that you have already done for Him and ask Him for faith and clarity in those you have been ignoring or otherwise not listened to.
Some of the words Jesus gives us strike fear in us, others doubt, but if we pick up His yoke, He will make them doable, and if we find ourselves facing defeat and walking down the road to Emmaus, He will meet us there and encourage us. Jesus doesn't ask the impossible of us, He asks us to make everything possible through God.
“But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."”
Matthew 19:26 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for making the impossible things I am asked to do possible. There is no such thing as an impossible request made by you or your Son Jesus Christ. You ask me to do the hard things, but you always give me the means to accomplish them, and in every one of them you have increased my faith and understanding of you. Some seekers turn away because they are reluctant to do your bidding... Father, I know you strengthen me so that there is nothing you ask which I should turn my back on. Don’t allow me to be tempted Father, but in each test, I ask that you provide me with the faith I require and open my eyes and my heart to you fully. I praise and obey you in the hard commands that you present me with; I praise you in your faithfulness as you accompany me in achieving them, and I praise you for the lessons that each one will have taught me. In those challenges that have caused me to be distressed you have comforted me, and in the moments when I considered abandoning your will you have encouraged me. You are great above all gods, and mighty in all things... I praise your name always and lift my hands to you in adoration. You are my God and my hope... in you all is possible... even for the frail of heart and those who are weak in their belief.
For your mercy and grace, I am thankful and say Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Amen
“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!"”
Mark 9:24 ESV
“The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.”
Psalm 28:7 ESV
Rich Forbes