A Year of Prayer: Season One Weekday DevotionalsSample

The scripture in Luke 18 paints a story similar to today’s scripture:

‘A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”. After the conversation, those who heard Christ’s reply were upset - it seemed like both the rich and the poor would find it hard to enter into heaven. But Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.’

Jesus’s words were hard to swallow for some. The rich couldn’t carry their wealth with them; the influential had to release their power, and the religious had to look past and beyond the rules. Those traditionally cloaked in security were being asked to take off their armour and approach Jesus with the faith of a child.

How frightening! The vulnerability of a servant humbly approaching the one who came to save us! And yet, isn’t that what Jesus did for us, in turn? He took off his riches, shed his influence and power, and came to bring the letter of the law to life as the Word made flesh. Jesus Christ stepped out of heaven to approach us as children, to invite us into a vulnerable faith and a complete embrace.

Let us be careful not to try and take our powerful tokens, totems, and important titles to Christ when he asks us to ‘come as you are.’ He set the example, and any vestige of power we retain will try to self-protect, and we, too, might find ourselves trying to wiggle away from the light of Christ’s words.

Prayer: Jesus, slay the parts of power that remain in my heart. I submit myself fully to your embrace, committing to being seen and fully seeing others in turn. Let this place of powerlessness become your altar of power; the one who does not disappoint does not change and does not withdraw his grace from upon us. From here to eternity.

Action: List some of the ways you might be seen to have ‘power’ in the world. How do these places of influence or privilege require you to submit yourself more fully to Christ, not to be blinded by them? List some areas of ‘weakness’ you have that the world may see of you or your position. In what ways does God reveal God’s power, strength, and beauty through this in your life?