Matthew 19.12 12 “For
there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been
made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for
the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”
– Jesus
In the conversations in Matthew 19, there are questions
and concerns by His listeners as to what Jesus was really saying. Some responded
with nothing short of shock and awe (see verses: 7, 10, 17, 25, 27). I love that
Jesus gave them answers, but like us, they weren’t always the ones they wanted
to hear.
Consider the Pharisees: they wanted justification for
divorce and so they legalized it and, in their minds, legalization made it all
better. Consider the disciples who saw rigidity in Jesus’ answer and wondered
how anyone could make marriage work. (I sometimes wonder that myself 😊)
Consider the rich man who gave lip-service to Jesus about
goodness, and wanting in on the action of Heaven. He queried Jesus as to what
he needed to do to get into heaven (eternal life), and Jesus told him to get
rid of his money-god. He didn’t expect that. He went away shaking his head in
disbelief. When Jesus pointed out how hard it was for a rich person to get into
heaven, His disciples exclaimed: [Well crap!] Who then can be saved!?
Consider Peter then challenging Jesus and demanding: “We
have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Good
question Pete: what then will there be for us? That’s always the question with
men: WIIFM radio (What’s in it for me?)
God doesn’t play by our rules. I know that is hard for
some, but it’s true. Jesus said: [Some]
eunuchs [are] born that way, [no say in the matter] and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others [no
power to withstand]—and there are those
who choose to live like eunuchs [even though they aren’t] for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The
one who can accept this should accept it. Accept or don’t accept; it’s what’s
in the heart that matters.
We humans, are temporary seeking, temporary seeing, and
temporary thinking. Long term is something we don’t do well. We’re more
concerned with what God is going to take from us, that we don’t want to give
up; or where He’s going to send us, that we don’t want to go. With God is it
all about a life, not a moment. And with God we live in the moment, not for the
moment.
If I choose to be a eunuch (as a way of life that does
without) then that is my choice. If I choose
a life that does without, and do so for God, then that is my choice. God won’t
take anything from me that I don’t see the benefit of giving up. Nor will God
force me to go somewhere I’m not willing to go. BUT! Life will make those demands, because I cannot control what happens
to me. And when the unexpected makes its demands, I’m left with either: me, all
by myself; or God, with me in Him. My choice.
Lord, my life isn’t
up to me to make, control, or to have on my own. I mean, I can, but when I do
it’s just me, and all that comes with that. Or, I can have this life with You,
the way You’ve designed it, and all that comes with it. Jesus said only those
who can accept it, should. Father God, I do! Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment