What must "I" do? ~ Mike MacIntosh

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,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'"

And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."
Mark 10:17-21

Are you willing to receive what Jesus has to give you? This is a loaded question because Jesus has so much to give. Sometimes our questions to the Lord are faulty and selfish, just like this wealthy young ruler. He wasn't asking what it took to inherit eternal life or to have peace with God. He was selfishly asking what he could get out of Jesus; "What's in it for me?" And we need to be so careful to ask the Lord with a pure heart. You can believe, and even live out, many of the 10 Commandments, but that doesn't make you a Christian. So when Jesus told this man to sell his possessions and give to the poor, He put him in his place.

Now notice that Jesus didn't say these words to trouble the young man. Verse 21 says that Jesus "looked at him and loved him." So maybe your questions have been a bit faulty and self-serving. Maybe you've been looking for God to "bail you out" of things in your life, treating Him no better than a personal genie. But God wants you to come to Him with a sincere heart and a willingness to serve and do whatever He asks of you.

Philippians 4:6 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." He wants you to make requests because He's the only one that can answer and fulfill them. But be sure that you come to Him with complete honesty and integrity. He listens to your requests and He loves you very much, just like the rich young ruler. Ask in faith and accept, in that same faith, His response. Then, whatever the tasks He has for you, take up that cross and follow Him with your whole heart.