Daily Devotional, Year 3 – October 22 (Who Is The Rich Young Ruler?)
By admin On February 17th, 2021.
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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – October 22
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Who Is The Rich Young Ruler?
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There is a song playing at this moment, in which are the words repeated, “…that I may be like Jesus!”
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Perhaps there are many other songs with that same sentiment.
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Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain
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THE RICH YOUNG MAN
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The problem is, while those words are easy to sing, they convey a truth that many 
would hate, if they actually understood the enormity of that sentiment.
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One very poignant example of this hypocrisy is found in the true historical account of the Rich Young Ruler, who came running to Jesus, and exclaimed…“Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” Matthew 19:16
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When Jesus finally said, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” Matthew 19:21, 22
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Rich Young Ruler – Hoffman – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain
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MANY LOST SOULS IN CHURCH
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Unfortunately, this same condition is widespread in today’s church-world.
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Yes, there are many who are willing to attend church, pay their tithes, and do many other good works. And this was the same condition of that rich young ruler. But if those who attend church, pay their tithes, and do other good works realized that Jesus requires them to go and sell all, and give to the poor, and come follow Him as a disciple, they too, would sadly walk away from their vain religion.
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You see, we too possess riches, just like that rich young ruler. Oh no, we may not be considered rich in the eyes of the world. But we all have things which are valuable to us, and do not want to give up.
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WHAT ARE MY RICHES?
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Perhaps, we love our TV programs. Or we love our favorite sports. Or we love our social clubs, or our gardens, or our lavish lifestyle, or our little cups of selfish moments, or our favorite foods, or our amusements and games, or our political talk shows, or we idolize our children, or our houses, cars and lands, or our hobbies, or our wanderlust, or our sensual music, or our expensive or even our sensual-looking apparel…
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Well you get the picture! This list could go on and on!
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A JESUS WE HATE
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The bottom line is, there are many things in this selfish world that we highly value.
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And if it actually came to the point that God asked us to give these up, in order to become just like Jesus, no doubt we would want to re-hang that kind of Jesus up on the Cross!
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Yes, the vast majority in the church-world are as Jesus says…“Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” Mark 7:6
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Protests – Anti Christian sign in Federal Plaza Chicago – cropped image – Wikimedia Commons
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PRETENDING TO BE CHRISTIANS
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Yes, the rich young man who went away sorrowful represents all of us! We all have earthly valuables which we aren’t willing to give up!
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And that is why there are so many in today’s churches who merely go through the motions of being a Christian, and yet, lack the true holy fire.
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We only want so much of Jesus, and no more!
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Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain
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ITCHING-EARS GOSPELS
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Now in these last days, Satan has been permitted to move in and create a counterfeit religious system which accommodates such double-mindedness.
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And as a result, multitudes attend church each week. They may speak in tongues. They may have dreams and visions! They sing praises! They talk about Jesus to others!
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But deep down, they realize they are still slaves to their fleshly passions and willing servants to their earthly desires! They still secretly love this present world!
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ABOVE PICTURE: Satan, The False Prophet who offers a world-loving gospel
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“THEY FORSOOK ALL AND FOLLOWED HIM”
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Now in contrast, let’s consider the disciples who truly followed Jesus…“And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him.” Luke 5:11
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These disciples forsook all, in order to follow Jesus. And Jesus asks no less of us!
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Oh yes, we must work and live and provide for our family’s needs and happiness. But there are many who use this as a cloak to hide under, as they continue to pursue their own personal worldly lusts.
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Christ calling His Disciples by Edward Armitage – 1869 – courtesy Wikigallery.com – Public Domain
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TRUE DISCIPLES NOT DOUBLE-MINDED
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But the Day is coming in which the secrets of our hearts will be exposed, and our hypocrisy will be manifest to all!
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Jesus said…“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33
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Here, Jesus spells it out in unmistakable language.
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Rich Young Ruler – Hoffman – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain
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AN UPWARD PATHWAY
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But how do we forsake all? Do we quit our job and trash all our belongings?
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No, but what God wants is for His children to begin the journey out of this world and upward on the gently ascending pathway which leads to the heavenly City of God!
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And as we study and learn more and more about the Father and His Son, the less will we love the things of this selfish, fallen world-in-rebellion…
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It is like the old song… “Turn your eyes upon Jesus! Look full in His wonderful face! And the things of the world will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace!”
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The more we grow to love Jesus, the less will we regard the things of this present, antichrist world-system!
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COME FOLLOW JESUS!
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And so, the call goes out to both you and myself, to turn our back on all the little treasures and selfish pleasures of the world, and begin to walk that upward pathway!
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And let’s face it! This world will soon pass away! So why not invest in Heaven’s real estate! Why not trade away this world for the world to come? Because that soon-coming kingdom will never pass away! And there we will be forever happy and forever young!
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Not too bad of a trade, wouldn’t you agree?
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TO READ PART 2, CLICK HERE…
June 2 (Who is the Rich Young Ruler? Part 2: “Going Through a Needle’s Eye”)
Old movie poster from 1936 of a camel through the eye of a needle – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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TODAY’S PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, By Thy great mercy and grace, make me one of Thy disciples! Take away my love for this present world! Let me forsake all in my heart, and give me an undivided heart that follows Thee onward and upward out of this present world…
USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven), or you can also read this shorter article… “JANUARY 7 (TIME TO GET OUT OF DODGE!)”
Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license
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THE END
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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN
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THE NARROW GATE STARS
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This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark). While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions. It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.
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The sketch to left shows, the two doors are each composed of two bright stars. The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle. The two stars that comprise the ‘Wide Gate’ Stars are the two brightest stars of the wave of water that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”, just click here). The stars that make up the ‘Narrow Gate’ are about half the width of the Wide Gate (see sketch to left).
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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here, “Orion The Reaper”.)
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Editor’s note: These sketches on this page are merely sketches. The stars are not in their exact place. However, they are close enough to find them in the night sky. But as with most stars, it takes persistence to finally locate them.
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WIDE & NARROW GATES IN THE HEAVENS
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As the opening verse says, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
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So what are these two gates all about? And how can I choose the right door? Well, just read this article and these questions and more will be answered.
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But before we explore these questions, let’s take a look at why these two sets of stars represent these two biblical gates.
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This sketch, while not 100% accurate, gives a fair portrayal of how this constellation group appears at winter’s end and even into June, when above the western horizon.
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)
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TOMORROW…
October 23 (Mark Now Given? Part 8: “Pandemic Madness…or…Devil-Designed-Deception?”)
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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY
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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
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THIS IS STUDY #293 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…
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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain
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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on the provided image credit link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing names, details, and tags, and all other necessary info on any particular photo.