The rich young ruler was a good man who observed the ten commandments from his youth, but it is sad to discover that he was not good enough for heaven. He was disqualified, because according to Jesus, he lacked one thing: he had no power over his material possessions. He failed the test of denying himself, taking up his cross and following the Lord. Although he was a good man, he was not saved.

Jesus the Son of man is also the Word of God. Therefore, it is the Word of God the Father, spoken or revealed by Jesus the Son of man that enables a man to be drawn to the Lord. Having been drawn to the Lord by the Word of God, man is given the opportunity to make an eternal choice: to either accept him or reject him. It is only believers in Jesus that will experience resurrection unto eternal life.

The devil cannot force sin down your throat if you are a believer. But what you do when he comes with temptation matters a great deal. Temptation is not sin and is common to all but yielding to it is sin. Therefore, to overcome, you must resist the devil by speaking the written word or disconnecting from the object of temptation. You must learn to walk in the Spirit and you will never fulfil the lust of the flesh.

In the natural, a shepherd leads his sheep by voice and they follow him because they know his voice. It is the recognition of the shepherd's voice that keeps the sheep from following strangers. True believers are the sheep of the Lord - The good Shepherd. The Lord Jesus Christ also leads his sheep by voice, and they follow him. Do you hear his voice?

As believers, we are called to walk the way of the cross every day. Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for us and denied himself, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps. Jesus, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. He also bore his cross to Golgotha, the place of his crucifixion - John 19:17.