Originally posted on August 28, 2012.
As witnesses for Christ, we have a great responsibility to share the truth revealed to us in God’s Word. The whole truth. No distortions. Nothing added. Nothing taken away.
In Mark 10:17-22, we see how Jesus, the King of Kings, shares truth with a young, rich ruler who has questions about eternal life.
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good–except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'”
“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
This obviously was not what the young man wanted to hear. Jesus points out the one thing that kept the ruler from eternal life. Did you catch how Jesus delivered the news?
Our Savior, the Son of God, “looked at him and loved him.”
Can you picture the scene?
It’s not a scene of cold, harsh judgement. It’s tenderness and honesty wrapped in love.
Unfortunately, Christians today are often characterized in the opposite. We’re often described as self-righteous and hypocritical — those who pass stinging judgement on others who don’t think like us.
As sinners who have been redeemed by the grace of Christ, let’s live by his beautiful example. Let’s never be afraid to share the truth of God’s word. And let’s deliver that truth with nothing less than the love of Christ.
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