I’m going to continue on with a portion of the same scripture from yesterday… 

Mark‬ ‭10:17-27‬ ‭MSG‬‬

“As he went out into the street, a man came running up, greeted him with great reverence, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?” 

Jesus said, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good, only God. You know the commandments: Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, honor your father and mother.” 

He said, “Teacher, I have—from my youth—kept them all!” 

Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him! He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.” 

The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go. 

As a mom/teacher/aunt/friend, it is so hard to watch a broken world attack children — and adults too – but children – oh man – there is something so heartbreaking about watching this world sneak into an innocent child’s head and heart. I truly think that is why I continue to write children’s books and give them away – I just want them to know they are loved and there is in fact a place where satan cannot get at their hearts – someday they will want that sanctuary – the sanctuary that can only be found near to the heart of God. Maybe if I leave enough bread crumbs lying around, it will help someone find there way back to Him some day.

I hope I can put into words what this above verse is speaking to my heart right now. Here is my attempt:

I can try and warn the children about every evil that might come their way – but the truth is, that will never work. I can’t warn them about every evil and I can’t save them from themselves. It’s not about following rules anyway— it’s not about adding more burdens to their lives… it’s about seeking Jesus, the one pure example of love and hope that walked this Earth. 

“Follow me all who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” -Jesus

Loving what is good – and like Jesus also said, “No one is good, only God.” So really, loving what is good is loving God. 

The man in the story above followed the commandments. He had it ‘right’. But, Jesus looks at him lovingly and tells him: There is more. Follow me. If you want to know real and eternal life, follow me. This will fulfill the laws. Matthew 5:17

I don’t want any child I know to be burdened by a thousand rules – I want them to set their heart on Jesus and choose what is good. The consequences of the bad choices are limitless – just like the consequences of good choices – only in the completely opposite direction. I can’t go over the consequence of every poor choice to every child – it won’t help them get to eternal life anyway – at least not according to what Jesus said in this passage. They must follow Him. They must love what is good not love finite rules… He instead points us to the infinite love of God. 

Jesus gave us examples of poor choices as well though, take the prodigal son. He chose poorly, lost everything, slept with the hogs, and drug himself home with the only hope he had left – in His Father. 

He wasted so much of His life chasing what didn’t matter – only to lose it all – now, when he came home, his loving Father welcomed Him and celebrated his return – because the Father is good. He is love and mercy. But that doesn’t give Him back His wasted years… nor does it immediately take away the guilt, pain, and suffering he carries from his poor choices.

I was asked recently – so then what is the point of doing good if we can be forgiven in the end anyway? – 

My reply – Because, the joke is on who? You want to spend your whole life sleeping with pigs and toiling over self? or would you rather experience real and eternal life – following what is good and pure, filled with hope, peace, joy, thankfulness, and love? I know what I would prefer. Plus, I love God. I love Him so much that I don’t want to spend my life apart from Him.

We are sold a false set of bills when we are told that what is impure is more fun. That my friend is a fine trick by satan to keep us from tasting what is good. He knows once we taste the goodness of our Lord – we won’t turn back to the pig sty. There is nothing in that darkness that will bring life… only death.

To wrap it up – Please help me spread the word to children. They don’t need to be burdened with a laundry list of rules or worry about being perfect – help me teach them to love what is good – and the only way they will learn this is if we, the parents and teachers and role models – love what is good too. I promise it’s not more fun to run from Him. Our world is really messed up, so please keep your ears open to the Lord, it is the only hope any of us have in staying in the light and choosing what is pure. 

Lord, open our hearts to Jesus’ life on this earth – help us see clearly what you are asking from each of us -and, please Lord, help us teach the children to love what is good. Amen, Amen, and Amen. 

And a little backyard soccer from Friday!