When was hope challenging this week?  How did you sense the presence and promises of Christ elevating your hope?


Read Mark 10:13-31.  What do the children, the rich man, and the disciples each assume qualifies a person to receive the kingdom?  How does Jesus quietly overturn every one of those assumptions? 



Why does Jesus look at the rich man with love before exposing what he lacks, and what does that reveal about the difference between moral sincerity and true dependence? How does the disciples’ question, “Then who can be saved?” expose that they were trusting in something other than grace, even after leaving everything?


What do you rely on; achievement, morality, security, reputation, or wealth, to reassure yourself that life is safe and your future secure (apart from Christ)?


Ask yourself: What would it look like for me to receive the kingdom like a child, empty-handed, unqualified, and trusting that Jesus gives what I cannot earn?


What concrete act of release, generosity, or obedience is Jesus inviting me into this week as a way of living as someone who already shares in His inheritance?


Spend some time praying through this passage. Read the promises regarding inheritance in Romans 8:17, Ephesians 1:11, 1 Peter 1:4, and Revelation 21:7. Express gratitude for the blessing of Christ and ask for the faith to identify when you may be tempted to trust wealth over Him.