The Word for wisdom:
Proverbs 24:1-2 (MSG)
1 Don't envy bad people; don't even want to be around them. 2 All they think about is causing a disturbance; all they talk about is making trouble.
The Word for inspiration:
Psalm 146:1-2 (MSG)
1 Hallelujah! O my soul, praise God! 2 All my life long I'll praise God, singing songs to my God as long as I live.
The Word for encouragement:
Luke 18:18-27 (HCSB)
18 A ruler asked Him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 19 "Why do you call Me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good but One—God. 20 You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother." 21 "I have kept all these from my youth," he said. 22 When Jesus heard this, He told him, "You still lack one thing: Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me." 23 After he heard this, he became extremely sad, because he was very rich. 24 Seeing that he became sad, Jesus said, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." 26 Those who heard this asked, "Then who can be saved?" 27 He replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
My observation:
This man in this story from outward appearances seems to lack nothing. However, he saw something in Jesus that was attractive to him. It prompted him to ask Jesus a question. Jesus said something very important to the man, "No one is good but One – God".
There is a lesson about prayer that I see in this passage. We cannot pray aright until we know in a personal life changing way the God to whom we pray.
The outside of this man appeared to be okay. However, he was lacking something on the inside. He did not have spiritual understanding of the will and ways of God. He was so close to heaven, but he was too much in love with his riches.
The tax collector went away justified, but the rich ruler went away sorrowful.
Luke 18:14 (HCSB)
I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
Luke 18:23 (HCSB)
After he heard this, he became extremely sad, because he was very rich.
My prayer:
Father God, my dear Father, I pray that the experience I will have when I pray will be like that of the tax collector who went away from his time of prayer justified.
Father, I pray that you would open the eyes of any who may be like the rich ruler. Give them eyes to see Jesus, and receive by faith the gift of eternal life that he offers without cost to those who believe in him.
Father, I thank you that when we have Christ in us that nothing is impossible.
Luke 18:27 (HCSB)
He replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
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A man's steps are established by the Lord, and He takes pleasure in his way.
Psalm 103:14 (HCSB)
For He knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.
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