LEARNING DAILY

 

Matthew 19:26, But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

 

I believe that settles the matter: When did the impossible ever stop God? It never has! It never will!

 

This statement by Jesus came as a result of the response a “rich young ruler” had when Jesus told him if he wanted to follow Him, he needed to go sell all he had and give to the poor. Then he would gain treasure in heaven. Jesus singled out the barrier this guy had when it came to following Him – he loved his wealth above everything else. The disciples of Jesus must have thought like the rich young man: that wealth was an indication of God’s blessing. They asked Jesus who was qualified to enter heaven if those who were obviously blessed by God did not qualify. Jesus responded with the words above; that God’s blessing cannot be earned; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not possible with men; it comes only through Him.

 

Luke 1:37 tells us that “nothing is impossible with God”. Throughout the Bible the God of the miraculous is at work. Abraham and Sarah conceived a son at an old age. God parted the Red Sea and Jordan River to allow His people to cross without harm. The fourth man walked with three Hebrews in a fiery furnace protecting them so they did not even smell like smoke. The woman Hannah was barren, God heard her cry and the prophet Samuel was born. The same happened for Elizabeth who was a relative of Mary, who conceived by the Holy Spirit. Victory after victory was given to Joshua in the Promised Land because of God going before the armies. These victories included the walls of Jericho coming down by the shouts of the people of God. Deliverances of God’s people after crying out in their disobedience; God rose up judges who were obedient to Him and victories were gained by God’s intervention. There were people, like Lazarus, who were raised from the dead by the power of God in the New Testament. The birth, life, death and resurrection testify to God doing the impossible.

 

Is there anything too difficult or impossible for God? No! The power to do the impossible comes from God, from faith in the one who is able to do the impossible. There are so many examples of doing the impossible than given above. The key in each is the power of doing impossible is God. Moses may have struck a rock for water to flow from it, but God was the One doing the impossible. Another thought in these examples is God did things that were impossible so He would receive the glory; man may have been used but God received the glory.

 

Over the years, I have been asked to pray with or for others. I have seen God do some wonderful things because of prayer. I have learned that God really does want us to ask Him into our various trials, situations, especially the messes we get into. I have also learned that He does not always answer the way I ask or want; He does not answer always right away. We must continue to “ask, seek and knock” about bringing godly desire to completion – that is still no guarantee. His timing! His way! All glory and honor to Him!

No there is nothing too great for God to do. The impossible done by Him is for His glory alone.

I end the way I began. One of the greatest miracles – impossible for man – is to say yes to the only way to eternal life in His kingdom. Only God can save man from the sinful, evil world we live in. What a joy to be asking for another to say yes to the salvation Jesus offers and see it happen! What a great God we serve!