LENT – WEDNESDAY, 13 MARCH 2024
Rev Michael Anokye: “GETTING RID OF YOUR IDOLS”
Prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, I ask you to remove any connection I have with idols in my heart or anything that may keep me from worshiping you. I pray that you keep them away from me. By the blood of Jesus, I destroy any habit, attitude, addiction, thinking, or imagination that contradicts God’s Word and hinders my spiritual growth. I ask for your help in accepting God’s gifts so that I can live in peace with God, humanity, and creation. Amen.
Reading: Mark 10:17-31,
“A man asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “Obey the commandments.” The man said he had obeyed them since he was a boy. Jesus told him, “One thing you lack: sell everything you have, give to the poor, and follow me.” The man went away sad because he had great wealth. Jesus said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone rich to enter the kingdom of God.” However, with God, all things are possible. Peter said, “We have left everything to follow you!” Jesus replied, “You will receive a hundred times as much in this age and eternal life in the age to come.”
Read the whole Chapter HERE
Reflection: In this passage, Jesus encounters a man of great wealth and authority who declines to surrender his possessions, even though he is offered eternal life in the Kingdom of God in exchange. We have certain things that can undermine our position in God’s Kingdom. Timothy Keller describes these things as our idols. Timothy says an idol is “anything more important to you than God, that captures your heart and imagination more than God.”
When we read this verse, we should understand that Jesus is not speaking against wealth but warning us against making it our ultimate goal. The rich young ruler was so focused on his wealth that he made it his primary concern.
What are your priorities in life? Are there things that distract you from serving God? These distractions could be anything from food and alcohol to drug addiction, anger, resentment, unforgiveness, or addiction to social media.
During the season of Lent, we are encouraged to look closely at our lives to identify and overcome any obstacles that prevent us from serving God faithfully.
If you wish to strengthen your relationship with God, you can take the following steps:
1. Reflect on your connection with God in your own unique way. Are you content with it, or would you like to improve it?
2. Evaluate how you use the blessings God has given you and how you can better serve Him with them.
3. Analyse your heart to see if anything is more important to you than God. If so, seek His forgiveness.
4. Engage in spiritual practices such as reading the Bible and praying regularly.
Let us pray:
Thank you, Father, for your Holy Word guiding and shining my path. And thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, who is the living Word brightening my darkness. Lord, I recognize that I must decrease so you may increase within me. Father, I pray that you will remove anything within me that dims the light and the love of Christ in me. May Jesus be exalted in my heart and life. Amen.