ICS Daily Devotions
Simple Faith
Mark 10:17-20 (NKJV) Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honour your father and your mother.’ ” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
In this passage, the commandments uttered by Jesus are some of the common sins that the rich young ruler or anyone who is successful might commit, such as being untruthful, covetous, dishonest in our business dealings, tempted by vices and not making time for our parents. When someone practises such values, their conscience will continually convict them and drive them to attempt to be good and change from the “outside in” through the law, religion or philosophy.
What sets Christianity apart from all other religions is that everything that is needed from us to stand right before God is done by Jesus Christ. It has nothing to do with us while all other religions emphasise on doing. This is why Jesus asked all those who are weary and heavy laden by religion to come to Him to find rest, and this is why the Gospel is good news, because salvation is by grace through faith!
Jesus was dealing with the issue of the rich young ruler’s heart that prevented him from having childlike faith in Jesus. Jesus will not contradict the Word because salvation will not come through good works, giving up of our possessions or anything that would allow us to boast.
No amount of works of righteousness that we have done can earn us a right standing with God, but God in His mercy sent forth His Son Jesus Christ to redeem us from our sins through His death on the cross, His shed blood and resurrection.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Nothing would help the rich young ruler even if he were to give up all his possessions to help the poor, because we are saved by the grace of God and not by works. He would not have been able to boast that he had salvation because he had given up everything. Salvation is a gift freely given by God, which cannot be purchased. All we need is to come with childlike faith to receive the gift of righteousness imputed to us by acknowledging Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. Simply believe with simple faith.
Sermon Series: Are You Young and Rich?
