Luke 18:15–30

There is a joy in simply coming to Jesus.

Then He gives the lesson: whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.

Immediately after this, a rich ruler comes to Jesus. He is everything the children are not. He is put together, respectable, moral, successful, and serious about eternal life. He has kept the commandments. He has status. He has possessions. He has lived a well-behaved life.

Yet when Jesus asks him to let go of his wealth and follow Him, the man becomes very sad. He cannot come like a child. His hands are too full.

The children receive because they have no claim, no achievement, no bargaining power. The rich ruler struggles because he has too much to protect. He wants eternal life, but he cannot release the life he has built.

This is a tender but piercing word for many of us, especially in Singapore. Most of us are not openly rebellious. We try to be responsible, respectable, careful, and faithful. We do our duties. We provide for our families. We serve where we can. We try to live properly.

But still, Jesus may be asking us: What are you holding so tightly that you cannot receive Me freely?

During this Love Singapore 40 Days of Prayer, fasting is one way we loosen our grip. We say no to some things, not because they are all bad, but because our hearts so easily become attached. Comfort, control, success, reputation, money, security, even ministry — these can quietly become the things we depend on more than God.

There is a joy in simply coming to Jesus. A joy deeper than owning things, enjoying things, achieving things, controlling outcomes, or being admired. The rich ruler walked away sad because he could not let go. But the childlike come to Jesus with open hands — and receive the Kingdom.

May prayer and fasting make us childlike again. May we come to God ready to be fully dependent on Him. May we “receive the Kingdom” as children even as we are ready to empty our hands before Jesus — to follow Him once again.