Day 39: What do I Still Lack

Opening Scripture

Matthew 19:16–22 (NIV)

16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” 20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Devotional Reflection

The early church was devoted to God, and their devotion was deepened through intentional practices. They devoted themselves to the Word of God through the teaching of the apostles. They devoted themselves to fellowship, gathering with other believers to encourage one another toward Christ. They devoted themselves to the breaking of bread—daily rituals that formed their hearts and minds around Christ. They devoted themselves to prayer.

The Spirit gives us this picture to help us understand that Christianity is all-encompassing. Devotion to Christ requires the whole heart.

If the early church had been devoted to prayer but not to fellowship, isolation could have undermined their spiritual growth. If they had been devoted to daily spiritual practices but neglected the Word of God, false teaching could have crept in and deceived them. True devotion to Christ involves the sanctification of mind, body, and spirit. It requires habits and practices that keep the whole self connected to God.

In today’s passage, the man who approaches Jesus is outwardly righteous. He has kept the commandments. Jesus does not challenge his claim of obedience. Yet the man asks a piercing question: “What do I still lack?”

Jesus’ response reveals what lies beneath the surface. The man loved his wealth. He could not let go of what his possessions provided for him—security, identity, influence, and comfort. From the outside, his life appeared holy. On the inside, there was idolatry.

The purpose of these forty days has been to increase our devotion to Christ. Along the way, we have examined practices and truths meant to shape us into wholehearted followers of Jesus. Yet devotion also requires ongoing honesty. As much as we need confession, we also need discipline—practices that leave nothing unaddressed.

Throughout our lives, we must regularly pause and ask ourselves this same question: What do I still lack? What attitudes, thoughts, behaviors, or motives remain misaligned with God’s heart? What practices do we need to adopt—or release—to address them?

Life will continue to present new challenges and temptations. We are shaped daily by our experiences and by how we interpret them. To assume that the practices we adopt today will meet every future need would be naïve. We must continually invite the Lord to search us, reveal what offends Him, lead us into confession and repentance, and guide us toward new Scriptures, new practices, new relationships, and new ways of drawing nearer to Him.

So let us ask the question honestly and humbly: What do I still lack?

The Examen

1. What area of my life might Jesus be pointing to if He asked me, “What do you still lack?”

2. What practice, discipline, or surrender might God be inviting me to embrace next in order to grow in wholehearted devotion?

Lectio Divina Scripture

Deuteronomy 6:5

⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (NIV)

Read the passage slowly out loud several times. With each reading, emphasize a different word or phrase. Notice what stands out and why.

Prayer Prompt

Lord, search my heart and show me what still lacks. Give me the humility to hear Your truth, the courage to surrender what competes with You, and the faith to follow wherever You lead. Amen.