In Mark 10:25 Jesus said it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom. He was referring to a camel entering through a gate or narrow passage, which the spiritual significance is as miraculous as interpreting a large animal squeezing through a little needle for thread, though that is not was Jesus was referring to, though it will take you willing to become small (humble) in your own eyes in order to enter into the places of greater freedom in Christ.
Now the camel would carry valuable treasures, commodities, etc. There are things that we carry. Some may be hurt, bitterness, and unforgiveness. Some things may be good things like God-centered dreams, expectations, disciplines, etc. sometimes we can tend to overpack those things as we go on our journey with Jesus. However, there will be times when we find ourselves in seasons that don’t require us to carry those things anymore. I am not talking about a lack of heart, faithfulness, and commitment to Christ. I am talking about certain exercises or garments per se that were necessary for one season but not the next. I am talking about relationships that God brought for a purpose and not the next, though it does not give us a license on our end to leave off wrong; but rather with an honorable fair well. Can you imagine leaving a visit with family without saying goodbye or worse, yelling at them and not seeking to repent and make amends?
Anyway, such circumstances leave us no different than a rich man unable to enter the Kingdom both now as a present reality and then as a future hope. Perhaps it is spiritual pride you hold on to that you are not happy with but apparently, it’s of great value to you the longer you hold on to it. No matter what may be in the baggage you carry, the fact we are holding on to it shows it is more than just an accessory, but a value that hinders our complete trust and reliance on the Lord.
Remember when Jesus sent disciples to preach and told them to not carry extra clothes, writing materials (scripts), money, etc? It was because He wanted them to first know how to rely on God The Father and not those things. They weren’t bad things. They were helpful but not to be relied upon. (Luke 10:1-6, 22:35)
There are many of you who rely on things to help you get through the day and are not giving room to rely on the Holy Spirit or His Word. Whether it be coffee, the news, you name it.
I myself, am not a coffaholic, though I enjoy the smell and taste. There was a time I was tired and about to minister and before considering grabbing a cup of joe, the Lord said why don’t you rely on a cup of Jesus instead and allow His spirit to be the sole source of your unction? Well, I didn’t need to be told twice as I forgo the joe and laid hold of Jesus as His presence then filled me afresh!
I hope you understand the point that we need to learn to let go of things that hinder us from entering into the fullness of what God has called us into within the season. Please don’t misunderstand this post if you left people wrong and dishonorably, because the Lord will not honor your next endeavors without making it right. Neither will the paths before you be clearer and perhaps bits of deception may meet you along the way to get you off course. Not because God allowed it, but because we refused to let go and let God’s nature have full course. How you end a season will determine how you enter the next.
Regardless of how gifted one may come, if we aren’t able to let go and learn to be abased at times; we come more as a “beast of burden” than a Benefit of Blessing. Paul said it this way; “ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”Philippians 4:11-13 KJV
Notice, before Paul got to talking about doing all things through Christ, he was talking in the context of letting go and not only when circumstance just happens to provide little to none. Sometimes it’s God who wants you to open those kinds of doors to see if you would rely on Him.
I’ll end by repeating this statement. What may have started as a Benefit of Blessing can end up being a beast of burden IF we refuse to let go of the things that hinder us from entering into full freedom. This I learned time and again; even as early as when I left my cell phone purposely in another state all to get alone with Jesus for three months. Now I did get confirmation on that decision, but it was up to me to let it go. Though a few people knew where I was at and I was with some family; my friends and even social media had not a clue. Let me tell you; the choice was hard at first but I ENTERED IN! Still paying my monthly cell bill, it didn’t matter because the cost of that bill failed in comparison to the WORTH I was gaining in Christ and has still left my life never the same. Also, my decision was not a license to dishonor the cell phone company by refusing to pay. Though I am sure I could have worked a plan out with them, but God wanted me to know the price and pay it in order to enter into the full spirit of counting the cost...at all costs! That is how the spirit of honor, integrity, and selfless service is born; and must be cultivated. Go the extra mile.
So what will you let go of for greater entry into freedom? Will you keep short accounts of those who have done you wrong, or are you still charging them years' worth of debt? Consider what Jesus shared in Matthew 18:21-35. However, the Lord is faithful to have gotten you this far; so what further in trusting Him and His ways are you willing to go? Is it really worth holding on to things that hinder your entry? Does it bring you that much great joy in your life? Just release it and find out, as you lay hold of Jesus!
