FAITH CAPSULE: The evidence of knowing God is serving Him fully with understanding.  

Mark 10:17-31

Running around in the name of God; engaging religious program without the knowledge of God is the ignorance of the highest order. To many, serving in the house of God is a tradition and not a transition to having a genuine relationship with God. Also, to some, going to house of worship is like going to a social gathering. In truth, ignorance is what makes destitute of a believer. Do you know the God that you serve or you only know about Him?
The Bible records about a rich young ruler in Mark 10:17, “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?’” Just as the rich young ruler was running after Jesus and knelt before Him with readiness of heart to live by His word, so also many are running back and forth to religious programs or churches without the understanding of God. For the rich young ruler to run after Jesus, he must have known about Him but not knowing Him. Does the story of the rich young ruler sounds like you? The rich young ruler knew all that he needed to know about religion from the commandments of his youth. You also have the same knowledge because you were born in a Christian home. The evidence of knowing God is serving Him fully with understanding. Jesus made the rich young ruler to get the understanding of all that it takes to serve Him, “Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross and follow Me.’” (Mark 10:21) Jesus is saying to you and all that runs after Him; all that only know about Him without knowing Him, all that He requires is the need to give all unto Him. Giving all to Jesus is dropping off baggage of delay that will not allow us to properly carry the cross. The weight of your own self is too heavy to add to the weight of the cross. The choice has to be made. Are you willing to give up all about self and give in to all about Jesus? The rich young ruler ran after Jesus but yet, he was not ready to fully engage with all that it requires to know Jesus. It is written concerning the rich young ruler, “But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Mark 10:22) Playing religion has to give way to Jesus reality, or it will kill and destroy.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of understanding that it takes to seek God.