"Being Still" - 3

As we look at the 'young rich ruler' from Luke 18, we see a picture of someone who has tried to keep the Law, but yet has not been able to be governed by the spirit of the Law. For a better illustration of what I mean, we could look at the few verses which come right before this encounter, which are found in Luke 18:15-17. Here we have small children being brought to the Lord, that He might touch them; but His disciples rebuked those that brought them. In verses 16 & 17 we see something said by Jesus which many of us tend to forget: "But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for such is the Kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." Interesting enough, there are many among us that feel they have outgrown their 'little child' portion of their Salvation, and have progressed to the young adult stage of their walk. Yes, we are to mature in our walk with the Lord, but never to a point where we are not entering the Kingdom of God as an infant. Okay, so you might not see my point yet; then lets move back a few more verses, say verse 10: "Two men went up to the temple to pray; one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." (Luke 18:10-14) The point is this: no matter how mature you might become , or think that you are, you will always be totally dependent upon the Lord, as an infant is dependent upon it's parent to care for it; otherwise, you are not making Jesus Lord of your life, but are trying to share lordship. When we try to share lordship with the Lord, we can find ourselves walking away from the ministry, much like the 'rich young ruler' walked away sad by Jesus asking him to sell all that he had and give it to the poor... (I hope you got that?)