Completely There

Today’s key verse is taken from the daily Bible reading plan at BibleInAYearOnline.com

Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, ‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God.’ And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions. - Mark 12:34 (NLT)

A trained pilot knows that being even a few degrees off course can mean completely missing the destination. "Close" might count in horseshoes, or corn hole, but when it comes to the Kingdom of God, “almost” still isn’t enough.

In Mark 12, a scribe asked Jesus which commandment was the most important. Expecting perhaps a simple, manageable answer, he received something deeper: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength… and love your neighbor as yourself.” The man responded with understanding, and Jesus told him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” But not far is still not in.

Why? Because even though the man grasped the summary of the law intellectually, the fulfillment of the law requires something more than understanding, it requires a Savior. Loving God perfectly and loving others consistently is beyond human ability. That’s the point. The law was never meant to be our ladder to God, but rather a mirror to show us our need for Jesus.

1 John 4:10 reminds us: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” The Kingdom isn’t entered by good intentions or human effort, but through faith in the finished work of Christ. Jesus kept the law perfectly on our behalf, and His death and resurrection opened the door for us to enter fully into God’s Kingdom, not almost, but completely.

Reflection Question: Are you relying on your effort to be “close” to God, or are you resting in the finished work of Jesus that brings you completely into His Kingdom?

Prayer: Father, thank You that through Jesus I am not just close, but completely welcomed into Your Kingdom. Help me live today from a place of rest, trusting in Your love and letting it overflow to others. In Jesus Name, Amen.