The Two Great Needs of the World

# 583 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:20,21 “ And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."

This rich young man could look at Jesus and say from his heart of hearts that he had indeed “kept” the Law of God. This church going man had bought into all the religious rules of the Pharisees designed to keep one away from any outward breach of God's commands.

Then Jesus gets very personal with this young man.

He looks at him.....lovingly.

Just let that sink in for a while. This man who thought he was very holy was suddenly thrust under the holy gaze of God. And what did Jesus do? Establishing His love for the young man, He then spoke the truth, flowing from His heart of love..

The essence of the Greek word here is He began to love him, and this love is that agape love that we read of in Scripture. It is the love that comprehends all that is involved and then seeks to perfectly help the individual. This love gives not necessarily that which is wanted, but that which is needed.

Guess what? The two great needs of the world are love and truth, and Jesus embodies them both. Love doesn't just stop at love, and truth doesn't just stop at truth. They must go together.

God “agaped” the world when He sent Jesus to die on the cross. His death a picture of benevolent love, the cross a picture of the harsh reality (truth) of our sins.

Father, guard us from the temptation to lock onto love and forget about truth or to lock onto truth and forget about love.