Devotional - August 26th, 2020

Dwight L Moody wrote, "God doesn't expect the impossible from us. He wants us to expect the impossible from Him.” From the beginning of scripture to the end we see God, doing impossible things. In the beginning there was nothing. But God spoke and the world and everything in it was created. How can you create out of nothing? We can't... but God can. When the world grew evil in God's sight, He decided to send a flood to wipe out all the evil. But He saved Noah and his family... and two of every kind of animal, bug and flying creature. Noah didn't go out and find all these critters. God brought them to Noah. Impossible for Noah, but not for God.

One hundred-year-old Abraham and his ninety-year-old wife Sarah were childless. Abraham's only heir was Eliezer of Damascus. There was no human way this could or would ever change. But God visited this old couple and told them they would indeed have a son, and through him they would have as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. They laughed, but one year later Isaac was born. They named him Isaac because it means laughter. Wouldn't you laugh too?

There were dry bones in a valley that the prophet Ezekiel prophesied to. The bones came together, joined by tendons and sinews. It wasn't Ezekiel's doing. This was all God. Impossible? Not with God. Scripture tells us that nothing is impossible when God is involved. From plagues to parted sea waters, healings to Jesus being raised from the dead, God specializes in the impossible.

The angel Gabriel came to a young girl to announce to her that God had chosen her to be the earthly mother of His Son. She asked the same thing we would. How in the world will this happen? How can this even be possible? Gabriel's response? “With God nothing will be impossible.” Those words are for us as well. While we like to think we are capable of doing what we need by ourselves, many of us have learned the hard way... this is not possible. When our lives seem impossible here are some things to remember. All things are possible when we have faith in Him. And a major part of that faith is trust... trust that He will take care of everything we can't. Sometimes the impossible in front of us is a test to see if we really do trust Him. I haven't met too many people who like tests, but the good news is, if we ask Him, He will help us through the test.

Some of us may well be facing what seems to be an impossible situation right now. A loved one's health is in danger. We feel trapped in a job, a relationship, our homes and there doesn't seem to be any way out. Perhaps the challenge in front of us has no apparent resolution. It is impossible to figure things out. And, we have used every ounce of our strength and power to fix these things...to no avail. But Jesus is the fixer of the impossible. However, sometimes He doesn't change the situation or the challenge, He changes us. You see, impossibilities are the place where Jesus does His best work! We need a bit of faith because with God all things are possible.

Here is a thought for all of us. “Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man's power ends.” George Muller. We see this over and over in scripture. Jairus, the superintendent of the synagogue had one child, a daughter. And she was sick to the point of death. Her survival was impossible. Until Jairus went to Jesus. His faith in Jesus moved his daughters healing from impossible to all things are possible in Jesus. Blind beggars and lepers by the side of the road knew no one would come to their rescue. Seeing was impossible and there was no cure for leprosy. For all intents and purposes living a decent life was impossible. Until Jesus mixed dirt and spit and gave the blind their sight. Until Jesus actually ventured close enough to the lepers to reach out and touch them and bring healing. Impossible? Not with Jesus.

Jesus still does the impossible. Just the right doctor is in an emergency room and can not only treat a patient well but give a family hope for the future. The Spirit moves in a teenager's heart to reach out and seek help for a substance abuse problem, bringing hope to a situation the family thought was impossible. Someone who has struggled with health challenges that seem to go on forever can still get up in the morning and give thanks for their blessings. To an outsider their lives look impossible. And in their own strength, they are. But all these people have turned to the God of impossible things and He has responded.

Let me leave you with two verses from Paul's writings. From Ephesians 3:20, "God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” And Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” We May feel like we are on the front line of a fierce battle, badly out numbered. We may be weary, heavy laden. We might feel like there is no way out. We might even feel like giving up, giving in or giving out. But all things are possible with the God of the impossible.

In His grip
Pastor Matt W