365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 304

Our pastor continued his sermon series called Smash. He told a good story that gave me some creative inspiration. A boy and his grandma played Monopoly together all summer long and every time, grandma would win. The boy was tired of losing and wanted to figure out how to win so he went to the library and got a book about How to Win at Monopoly. The next game time came around and he bought up all the good properties like Boardwalk, he landed Grandma in jail several times and he collected a ton of hotels and money. He beat grandma and was so proud of himself. He asked her about leaving the game out as is so when his friends came over he could prove he won but grandma in her wisdom said, "oh no, you put the game away. At the end of the game it all goes back into the box." This was a great modern day example of the story of the rich man who ask Jesus what he can do to be saved. No matter what we collect in terms of success, achievements, money, possessions and no matter what we do to get a ticket to heaven, we will all fall short. We can't take anything with us and we can't do anything that will seal the deal and get us eternal life. At the end of our lives, it all goes back into the box. We can't win this game but we don't have to. The game has already been won by Jesus. His death on the cross and resurection from hell has given us the ticket and all we need to do is reach out and take the ticket. We fall short because we are human. We are not capable with our sinful nature to get into heaven but as Jesus said to the rich man, "all things are possible with God". Because of Jesus, we have already won the game. We fall short but Jesus fills in what is needed. This realization that we come up short is a necessary step on our journey of faith. Have you come to that realization that you cannot do this on your own? Jesus loves us and wants us to measure up. Ask Him and he will take care of the rest and give you your ticket. Here Lord, this is all I got; you make up the rest. Amen.

Mark 10:25-27 But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."