From the Pastor
It just doesn’t seem fair that God would ask us to do the impossible. Not only does He ask, but He commands that we, “Be perfect” (Deuteronomy 18:13), “Be ye holy for I the Lord your God am Holy” (Leviticus 19:2), “Rejoice when all men speak evil of you” (see Matthew 5:10-12), “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), “Bring every thought into captivity” (see 2 Corinthians 10:5), and “Love you enemies” (Matthew 5:44). From Genesis to Revelation we see impossibilities. We see God asking people to do things that are out of their control or inhumanly possible. He tells Moses to “tell Pharaoh to let my people go!”; Joshua, “tell them to march around the walls of Jericho and they will come down!”; “Elijah, pray for rain!”; and “Mary, you will bring forth a Son.” In our lives, just trying to maintain a marriage, raise a family, make a living, or just get through life is enough to give us anxiety and ulcers! Then, God asks us to be holy, forgiving, and joyful. That’s when life begins to feel like a circus. You’re doing a balancing act, while juggling odd shaped objects, on a tight rope of Christian obligation!
Gabriel told Mary she was going to have a baby. She wasn’t married, and the Spirit of God will move on her in a miraculous way, and she will have a baby. She responds with, “be it unto me according to thy word”. She surrendered to the fact that God can take what seems impossible and make it possible. Notice she had to come to a place of surrender. Her Son, Jesus, would later express His surrender when He prayed, “Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done”.
Another example is found in Luke chapter 8. Jesus told His disciples to row across the Sea of Galilee. Jesus found Him a spot, and went to sleep. A great storm arose, and the men rowed with all their might. However, it was humanly impossible to save their own lives. They went to Jesus, and rebuked the storm. First, Jesus knew there was going to be a storm. He knows everything! Second, He asked them to row to the other side, knowing there would be a storm that would threaten their lives. Third, He went to sleep! Finally, He did nothing until they came to Him. Now, there is the key! Jesus allowed them to face the storm, so that they would come to Him!
God designs life with heart wrenching impossibilities! He does this so that we will recognize that the trial we are facing is going to take more knowledge and power than what we humanly posses. It is then the child of God surrenders to Him, and cries out to Him with total dependence upon His supernatural power.
If I am going to be holy, forgiving, and joyful I am going to need a power that I don’t have. However, it is a power that I can have through Him! “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37), and “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13). Cry out to Jesus daily! Cry out to Him in total dependence! Watch God turn your impossibilities into possibilities.
– Pastor Matt Cuny
