Matthew 19:22-26 Camels and Needles
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: May 29, 2019 Matthew 19:22-26
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, 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.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
(Understanding the Text) Why did Jesus single out rich people when it is only with difficulty that anyone enters the kingdom of heaven? I think because the prevailing idea was that the rich were people who were the favored of God. Being rich automatically meant that people were closer to God according to the disciples’ thinking. Jesus was trying to show them the obstacles that had to be overcome when you were rich. Their response was then nobody could be saved. In a way, they were right, and Jesus acknowledged that they were right by saying it was impossible for man to be saved by himself. Then He reminded them that God could save them.
(Revelation of God / Application) The message here is that man cannot save himself. The rich young ruler was asking what deed he could do to be saved, and Jesus’ response was to give up the world and follow God without reservation. The disciples were shocked that rich people had great difficulty entering into the kingdom of God because they had the same mentality about God. Their deeds would save them. They did not understand that they were blessed not because of their sacrifice of giving up their livelihoods and lifestyle to follow Jesus. The deed did not count. It was not what they gave up that was approved by God. It was actually being with Jesus that brought them into the kingdom of heaven. It is being with God that is approved by God. It’s not the stuff we give up or do that is important; it is the drawing nearer to God that is important. The stuff we give up is simply because it interferes with our nearness to God.
(Prayer) I pray to focus on You rather than the little stuff around me that I need to get rid of in order to be closer to You.