And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”  The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23-24)

To be wealthy in this world is to accumulate many things.  One who is a steward may be in charge of many things, but the steward knows it belongs to someone else.  It is hard to give up ownership until you realize that it truly is not yours.  That is the place where you begin to understand the truth and know that you are not your own, but belong to the One who made you.  Whom will you serve?  Truth or the illusion of self?  How hard it is.

Lord, You call us Your children.  You have made us a part of Your family.  I am not my own, but belong to You.  Guide me so that I do not act as my own, but as one who belongs to You.  Lead me in the way of everlasting life so that I live in the reality of truth.  All that I have has been entrusted to me and I shall leave it behind when this life is done.  Guide me into all truth and teach me how to live truthfully.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we may have true life and have it abundantly.  Lead me through the obstacles that get in the way.  Help me to understand that all that I have is mine in stewardship.  Teach me to let go and trust You for all things.  You are the One who has provided for me throughout my life.  You are the entrance to eternal life.  Let nothing get in the way of my being with You.  Amen.

“Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”  But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property” (Mark 10:21-22).

One thing you lack.  Those are words we do not want to hear.  But listen to what Jesus says.  The rich man is rich in his own mind and this hinders him.  Where is it you lack?  What is it that hinders you from living fully in the Lord’s kingdom?  What has more value to you here?  We are to love, fear, trust, and seek the Lord above everything else.  Whatever might get in the way needs to go.

Lord God Almighty, all things are Yours, for You created them.  For a time, we have possession of things, but we will leave them behind.  I have scrambled and sought and clung to what I have gained, but what is that compared to the eternal life that You offer?  Lead me out of the pit of delusion to have the right priorities so that I may live into the life You are giving me.  Guide me in the way of salvation.

Salvation incarnate, Jesus my Lord and Help in every time of trouble, help me to see the true state of my soul.  With faith, grace, and mercy, guide me along right paths for Your name’s sake.  Help me to leave behind all that has brought me to this point, both the bad and the good.  Help me to pick up my cross today and walk with You wherever You will take me.  Guide me out of the pit of this age and into the light of Your glory.  Amen.

“You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”  And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up” (Mark 10:19-20).

Do you know right from wrong?  Maybe not everything, but you do know when you are choosing to do something wrong.  This is the place to begin.  Then, ask where to go from there.  Instead of insisting that you’ve always done things right, look to the One who has.  We each have places where we have participated in the rebellion against the Lord.  Jesus is gracious and He asks us this question.  Give an honest answer.

Lord, I can speak of all of the things I’ve done which are right, but there are also so many things that I have done that are not right.  Guide me out of thinking that all is well with my actions if You know there are other things that need to be confronted.  You must be the author and finisher of my faith because I do not know where things are that get in the way of living in harmony with You in Your kingdom.

Lord Jesus, You have come to save us.  More than just brushing us off and sending us on our way, You create a new an clean heart in us that willingly unites with You.  Lead me out of selfish thinking to the place where I love what is right and willingly die to what is wrong.  Guide me in Your goodness through all that hinders me so that I rely upon You and not upon what I have or have not done.  Amen.

“As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:17-18).

Who is good but God alone?  We assume that we are good, but apart from grace, which allows us to stand before our good God, we have the wickedness in us that sin has brought upon us.  We call others good, but why?  That cheapens the reality of what is truly good.  Your words do matter and the truth is not changed by the false witness that the little good in us outweighs all of the evil.  Jesus said that God alone is good.

Lord, I know this does not mean the opposite where I think of others as pure evil.  We are in the age of good and evil.  Both are present.  Both are present in me.  You alone have come and shown us what is right and good.  Help me to be guided by the faith You have given me to seek what is right and good.  Lead me by Your grace to not settle for what is good in me, but to move fully through this journey where You will slay what is not good.

Lord Jesus, I need to be saved.  I will settle, but You will not.  Lead me out of the positions where I settle and think in terms of good enough.  You have told us that we must be perfect, even as the Heavenly Father is perfect.  Guide me out of the compromise I live between good and evil in order to live for the true life which lives in the goodness of the Father.  Help me each step of the way and grant that Your goodness would shine through me.  Amen

“Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”  And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them” (Mark 10:15-16).

We are to be like children, but not childish.  See with wonder the creation around you.  Look, explore, discover, and search for the pearls of great price.  Do not scramble to gain for its own sake, but seek for the Lord where He may be found.  Adults accumulate, children see the world through the eyes of wonder.  Do not be distracted by this world, but seek to look at it with awe and wonder.

Lord, I have forgotten the joy of childhood.  Those quite moments where I pondered the stars, looked at the butterflies fluttering, and marveled at the activity of creation.  I have become busy with being responsible or distracted and have set into a pattern of always being busy.  Restore the wonder You first gave me that I may see Your hand behind, in, and through all things.  Teach me what it means to come to You as a child.

Lord Jesus, You give the power to become a child of the Heavenly Father.  Teach me what it means to be a child.  Help me to see things the way You would have me see them.  Lead me according to Your purpose so that I mature in the way You know I need to mature.  Guide me in the faith You have given me and awaken me to the awe of wonder of all that has been made through You.  Amen.

“And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.  But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:13-14).

The world segregates, divides, and determines who is privileged and who should be kept out.  The world determines the outcasts of society.  All are made in the image of God and none are to be kept away.  Do not hinder the children.  The invitation is inclusive even if the relationship in salvation is exclusive.  The kingdom of God belongs to those who move from guilt to innocence.  By grace in faith do we find salvation.

Lord, what You are saying is not so mysterious.  You love all whom You have created.  Sinners divide and You unite.  We think in terms of who is worthy, mature, made of the right stuff, or whatever.  You love.  Guide me out of the wickedness in my heart to see that in You alone is there truth and right vision.  Help me to see others through Your eyes.  Lift me out of the fog of this age.

Lord Jesus, You love all equally.  I think in terms of what I have done and how I ought to be considered differently.  Guide me out of the mess of my thinking to see all others through the eyes of love.  Help me to love all people, sharing with them the truth of the Gospel.  Guide me in the upward call You have given me in faith.  May I see all others today as those whom You have made in Your image and love as You love me.  Amen.  

“In the house the disciples began questioning Him about this again.  And He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery” (Mark 10:10-12).

What does God intend?  That the two become one.  Yes, there are all kinds of reasons why divorce happens, but look at God’s intent.  He desires that the two learn how to unite as one.  Not one over the other, but two working as one.  So also, we are the bride of Christ and He is teaching us how to be one with Him.  It is not a power struggle, but a shifting, blending and growing that happens, just as should happen in marriage.

Lord help me.  I hear these words, but I am constantly striving and seeking for myself rather than learning from You how life is to be lived.  This principle goes beyond marriage to include all of the relationships I have.  Teach me what it means to pursue being who I am in the midst of relationship.  Teach me to not seek to exert power or authority, but live in the truth You have revealed.

Lord Jesus, You have given me the words of life.  You will lead me and I must follow.  Guide me this day to have Your righteousness come into all of my relationships.  Lead me according to the Father’s purpose to live out today those things which You would have me do.  Through all the turmoil of this age, guide me in the upward call You have given me so that I may live into the life You offer.  Amen.

“But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.  For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.  What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” (Mark 10:6-9).

God made them and God made us.  In our world, we are encouraged to choose our identity.  We hear from the meaning of the first article in the Creed that God made each one of us.  Either God made you or else you get to determine who you will be.  It boils down to that.  The Son has come to make you in the image of Christ.  To live the Christian life is to be created each day and proceed as the Lord will make of you what He will.

Lord, this world promotes independence and seeking for the self, but You are the One who made me.  Help me to not fall into the trap of thinking that I am independent from You.  Help me to see that if You are not the One making me, I am on the broad road which leads to destruction.  Guide me in the way of living the life You give me no matter the cost so that I may be with You forever.

Thank You Lord Jesus for reminding us that all things have their being because of You.  You have come to lead all who believe into a life that is defined by righteousness.  Lead me in this life and help me to not be distracted by the constant noise of this world.  You alone must be the One who leads, for I am often confused by all of the conflicting ideas that swirl around me in this world.  Help me Jesus.  Amen.

“They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”  But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment” (Mark 10:4-5).

Moses wrote this law to allow them do what they were going to do.  This was never God’s intent, but came about because of man’s sinfulness.  It is because of our hardness of heart that these things were allowed.  Grace allows us to sin, but its purpose is to restore us so that we sin no more.  It is not an excuse.  The world looks for excuses, but our Lord desires that we learn to live life the way was created to be lived.

Lord, You know that I run with allowances thinking I am being faithful when I am doing things the way I want to do them.  Lead me away from such thinking in order that I may learn how to live life according to Your righteousness.  I know I have grace to cover my sin, but lead me to live needing less and less forgiveness and more and more encouragement to live according to Your will.

Come Holy Spirit and clear my mind.  You know where I look for excuses.  You know where I seek to do things the way I want to do them rather than obediently doing what is right in Your sight.  Guide me Lord Jesus according to all that You have taught me so that I live into this life for which You are shaping me according to the Father’s will.  I need to be saved from myself.  Save me gracious Lord.  Amen.

“Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife.  And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?” (Mark 10:2-3)

What was the custom of Moses?  What is the custom of the Lord?  Is there a difference?  The Lord allows us to establish customs for our needs, but it is always fair to ask ourselves whether or not our customs fully conform to what the Lord desires.  Our habits do shape us, but they are not the law.  Even the law is subject to the Lord.  Therefore, subject all things in your life to the Lord.

Lord, You know where I play games with myself, others, and You.  I am often seeking for a way around what is simply a matter of obedience.  I know You have given me grace upon grace, but help me to live not seeking to be forgiven, but to live righteously according to Your will.  Teach me how to think such that I seek first You and Your righteousness with a desire to do Your will.

Thank You Lord Jesus for being gracious.  In while yet I was (and still am) a sinner, You died that I might be forgiven.  I do come to You looking for excuses, but You offer solutions and the way of true life.  Lord, lead me with humility and in submission to the Father’s will no matter the consequences.  Guide me now and forever in the right way of living life so that I may follow You now and forever.  Amen