Scripture: Mark 10:21
Jesus looked at him carefully and loved him. He said, “You are lacking one thing. Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.”
Thought for the Day: Where have I been? These words have been read and spoken by me more times than I could count, yet it was only yesterday that I noticed how Jesus “looked at him carefully and loved him.” I have missed the word “loved” which seems strange as it might be my favorite word. Jesus is about ready to ask this man to do the most difficult thing he could imagine, and the writer of the Gospel wants us to know how much Jesus loved him. And though the man did not do as Jesus requested, and according to the scripture, the man went away saddened because he had many possessions, I do not believe Jesus stopped loving him. Jesus was very serious in his request of the man, but a human NO does not even begin to strip away the power of God’s love found in Jesus.
Prayer: You love us and continue to love us, O Holy God, even when your call is ignored or dissuaded momentarily by our unwillingness. Amen.
