Passage of the Day:
Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[c] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]” 20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, 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.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible,” Matthew 19:16-26.
Reflection:
An ungodly belief is any attitude, belief, decision, expectation, oath or vow that does not agree with God’s character, nature or Word. Based upon the context of today’s featured passage, this is where Christians have developed the notion that you can’t be rich and be a true follower of Jesus. Yet, the Rich Young Ruler appears to have trusted in his money and not the Lord. Despite how shocked his disciples were following this conversation; Jesus does point out that with God all things are possible.
Prayerful Action:
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority, Colossians 2:8-10.
Renewing Your Mind:
If the faith of Jesus’ disciples was shaken by this encounter with a Rich Young Ruler, don’t be surprised if you develop beliefs contrary to the Bible. The apostle Paul provides a model for testing beliefs in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22. Similar to what the Berean Church practiced in Acts 17:11, the more familiar you get with the Bible through church and personal studies, the less vulnerable you will become to developing new ungodly beliefs.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
Human beings are fallen creatures, Romans 3:9-12, imperfect and unable to flee all temptations in life. Subsequently, the key to overcoming ungodly beliefs is maintaining a teachable spirit. Test everything you hear and to cling to what is good, right and true, Philippians 4:8-9.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 