FROM THE DAWGHOUSE…
No Manipulation…Ending Strong!
My BIG TEN Bible Challenge for 2025 has been Mark’s Gospel. I’ve read it 6 times with 4 more to go before December 31. If you took the challenge how are you doing? The more you read one book the more the truths sort of leap off the page at you. Here’s just one account that is so familiar but hits me as a man right in the wallet:
Mark 10:17-27 NASB95
17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.
23 And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus *said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”
The quick application: Jesus loves this man but sees his Achilles heel that is keeping him from full discipleship: money. So Jesus calls him to do something that is so radical for this man: Give it all up!
Jesus, that’s a little extreme don’t You think?!
Now the great news here is that Jesus is using the Law to help this man see how he failed to keep the whole Law and that his money idol had a firm grip on him and was his god. He wasn’t saying to this man: “If you give up everything to follow me you’ll earn your salvation.” No, Jesus was saying: “You think you’ve kept the Law and are in good standing with God but you’re not. You haven’t kept the Law and you can’t keep the Law and you need Me as your Savior. If you give up every penny you have you still won’t earn your way to heaven.” No manipulation. Jesus wants this man to end his life strong and close to God for time and eternity which can only come through trusting in Him as Savior and Lord.
Thanksgiving and Christmas are grouped relatively close together and I love that they are. I love the end of the year because we get to slow down a bit and spend more time away from the pressures of work and get to hang out with the people who mean the most to us in some meaningful worship services and family times.
But when I think of Thanksgiving, I inevitably realize I’m never thankful enough for all I have, never generous enough, and have self-dependence idols and yes financial idols that I have to continue to take off the pedestal of my heart. Just like this probably relatively good man who wanted to follow Jesus. When I contemplate Christmas, I am more and more aware how much, like this man, I need a Savior who does for me what I cannot do for myself.
What I want for you at this Thanksgiving and Christmas time is to sort of pull aside and review your lesser gods that pull hard on your soul. What are they? Let the reality of those gods that yell at us remind us of all that our Great God has given us and how much the Lord Christ has done for us in His coming, life, death, burial and resurrection on our behalf.
My brothers, let it all sink in: God is for you because He wants to be. Give thanks and worship!
Enjoy Thanksgiving. Treasure Christmas.
Your brother,
Pete Alwinson
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My business brothers and those more generous than me always want to know the facts of how FORGE is doing at the end of the year. We have received so far generous gifts of about $188,000. To end the year with a balanced budget we still need $120,000. If you would like to help us finish strong you could go to https://forgemen.breezechms.com/give/online and donate, or write a check to FORGE MEN INC., 300 N. New York Ave, BOX 284, Winter Park Florida, 32790 or write a check and bring it to FORGE. It’s all tax deductible.
