02
The Wounds Of A Friend
Jon Burgess“Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.” Mark 10:21-22 NLT
I'm so thankful that the Gospel of Mark gave us insight into how Jesus felt about the rich young ruler. Jesus truly loved this young man. He could have been His next disciple. Jesus could see a friendship and ministry flowing from this man once he was freed from earthly entanglements. The beauty of His heart for this man to become all God had designed him to be meant Jesus wasn't delivering a "zinger" to drive him away but rather a means to come closer. He knew it wouldn't be easy to take, but "faithful are the wounds of a friend" (Prov 27:6).
This is where we usually get it all wrong. We see love and friendship as fluffy and comfy. Anything that challenges us, makes us examine our motives, calls us on our hypocrisy or makes us uncomfortable isn't true love right? Yet, what Jesus models for us here is the true definition of love and friendship. Love doesn't say what we want to hear, love says what we need to hear. I probably would have slapped the guy on the back and said, "let's go" hoping we get could around to that whole greed/idolatry thing some time down the road. I mean who wants to talk anyone about their money right? The faithful wounds of a friend are willing to even risk losing that friendship for the chance that we would find a new level of freedom. Do we love the people in our lives enough that we would risk being misunderstood so that they might find healing through the wound? The rich young ruler missed his chance to be the 13th disciple. What am I missing out on because I won't receive correction, instruction or admonition from a friend?
Thank you Lord for leading me to this passage which so reveals Your heart! You love me so much that you surround me with friends in my life who will call me on what they see that doesn't match up with what I say. When it stings help me to remember You correct those that You love through the friends around me! If I ever get to a place where I take instruction or correction as rejection please remind me of what You taught me this morning.
