“Usually what sabotages our passionate pursuit and deeper connection with God is something that causes discomfort or inconvenience to us. It is important we remember to hold loosely the very things God has given that we may one day be required to let go.”- Heath Adamson
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”- Matthew 11:29 (ESV)
Heath Adamson concludes Chapter 9 of The Sacred Chase as he talks about Matthew’s gospel account of the rich young man (Matthew 19:16-22). First, Mr. Adamson describes the significance of Jesus’ invitation to the young man to follow Him.
In first century Judaism, rabbis personally invited a small, selective group of students to study with them. Also, each rabbi possessed a yoke – a set of beliefs and interpretations the rabbi sought to teach to the next generation. Therefore, when a student took on a rabbi’s yoke, he committed to learn and represent that rabbi’s specific way of seeing God.
But, the rich young man failed to welcome Jesus’ words. Instead, he saw them as an inconvenience. As a result, this exposed the rich young man’s true heart. Heath explains:
” . . . [the rich young man] wasn’t willing to relinquish his most precious possession to be close to Jesus. Something got in his way. His eyesight was skewed, and rather than discerning why, he simply squinted and got used to it. He adapted to what he thought normal should be.
The new normal Jesus introduced the young man — and all of us — to is about seeing life through God’s eyes. It means we derive value from permanent things. Significance is found not in doing more but in being present in the moment. . . . We are all one rational excuse away from leaving our inheritance in Christ in this life unclaimed.”
Finally, the author underscores, the sacred chase doesn’t mean that you first set aside every rational excuse and then start the journey. Rather, you must kill every single excuse and refuse to all it to ever resurrect!
Today’s question: What sabotages your passionate pursuit of God? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Extraordinary in costume = ordinary”
