What really is impossible? Probably fair less than we imagine in our minds. Most often, impossibilities lie within our self-imposed barriers rather than within the realm of God. Case in point: a man named Abraham, and his wife, Sarah. God, through angelic messengers, made this absurd announcement:
"I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son." (Genesis 18:10)
If we didn't know the rest of the story, we would probably react as Sarah did: "Sarah laughed to herself" (Genesis 18:12). That's a mild reaction; this statement merited a roll-on-the-floor-laughing-hysterically response. Sarah was a post-menopausal woman in her nineties! The outrageous promise of God was without precedent; doubt and laughter seemed the obvious response. But, the impossible is very possible when we factor in the truth of this question:
"Is anything too difficult for the LORD?" (Genesis 18:14).
You know the rest of the story: a child WAS born to Abraham and Sarah a year later; a child of promise who became ancestor of our Lord Jesus and the people of promise, the Jews. And it is a great story that shouts to us with application: Is anything too difficult for the LORD? But, that's where human rationale easily factors in. Sure, God could do this for Abraham and Sarah, but He isn't in the business of paying off debt, or healing people today like in bygone days. Great stories of faith and victory from "the Bible days" are just that: historic stories of the past. Or, so we reason.
Make no mistake: I'm not exactly throwing mountains into the sea with my grain-of-mustard-seed faith. I easily view the legendary stories of faith in Hebrews eleven as magnificently impressive, but personally unattainable. And yet, the probing question continues to stare me in the face: Is anything too difficult for the LORD? The answer that comes too easily is, "No, but ..." For the innumerable great possibilities that are available through my incomparable Creator, there are thousands of exception clauses in my faulty faith.
What would happen if you and I truly believed what we read in the Bible? What possibilities would become realities if we could truly wrap our minds - and our faith - around stories like Abraham and Sarah, and David and Goliath, and Moses, and the miracles of Jesus? There are far more Kingdom-serving feats of faith at our disposal than we can likely begin to imagine in this moment.
What impossible mountains loom before you today? Is there a health, financial, marital, vocational, or emotional obstacle that stares menacingly at you today? Is overcoming it impossible, or only in your mind? Is anything too difficult for the LORD?
May the God of all possibilities remove our faith barriers today, and open our eyes and minds to the limitless possibilities available through Him.
Steve
© 2011, Steve Taylor
"I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son." (Genesis 18:10)
If we didn't know the rest of the story, we would probably react as Sarah did: "Sarah laughed to herself" (Genesis 18:12). That's a mild reaction; this statement merited a roll-on-the-floor-laughing-hysterically response. Sarah was a post-menopausal woman in her nineties! The outrageous promise of God was without precedent; doubt and laughter seemed the obvious response. But, the impossible is very possible when we factor in the truth of this question:
"Is anything too difficult for the LORD?" (Genesis 18:14).
You know the rest of the story: a child WAS born to Abraham and Sarah a year later; a child of promise who became ancestor of our Lord Jesus and the people of promise, the Jews. And it is a great story that shouts to us with application: Is anything too difficult for the LORD? But, that's where human rationale easily factors in. Sure, God could do this for Abraham and Sarah, but He isn't in the business of paying off debt, or healing people today like in bygone days. Great stories of faith and victory from "the Bible days" are just that: historic stories of the past. Or, so we reason.
Make no mistake: I'm not exactly throwing mountains into the sea with my grain-of-mustard-seed faith. I easily view the legendary stories of faith in Hebrews eleven as magnificently impressive, but personally unattainable. And yet, the probing question continues to stare me in the face: Is anything too difficult for the LORD? The answer that comes too easily is, "No, but ..." For the innumerable great possibilities that are available through my incomparable Creator, there are thousands of exception clauses in my faulty faith.
What would happen if you and I truly believed what we read in the Bible? What possibilities would become realities if we could truly wrap our minds - and our faith - around stories like Abraham and Sarah, and David and Goliath, and Moses, and the miracles of Jesus? There are far more Kingdom-serving feats of faith at our disposal than we can likely begin to imagine in this moment.
What impossible mountains loom before you today? Is there a health, financial, marital, vocational, or emotional obstacle that stares menacingly at you today? Is overcoming it impossible, or only in your mind? Is anything too difficult for the LORD?
May the God of all possibilities remove our faith barriers today, and open our eyes and minds to the limitless possibilities available through Him.
Steve
© 2011, Steve Taylor
posted by steve @ 8:12 AM
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