“Jesus looked at them and said,
“With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27
This statement from Jesus follows a question asked by his disciples, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus had challenged a rich man to sell all of his worldly possessions and become a disciple, but the young man went away, sorry that he could not do as Jesus asked.
In our rich culture, there are a lot of young (and old!) men and women who do not want to give up everything to follow Jesus. Persuading them to be Christians often seems impossible. Jesus acknowledged that it is hard for those who are rich to enter the Kingdom of God; in fact he said that it was easier for a camel to go through the “eye of a needle” than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.
When in Israel, our tour group was able to see what the “eye of the needle” is (a small opening in the city gate where camels can be tied up) and to think about how difficult it would be for a camel to squeeze through one! With human eyes, it does look impossible!
Perhaps you are struggling with your own “impossibility” today. There is a chorus that comes to mind (perhaps like me you learned it as a child):
Got any rivers you think are uncrossable? Got any mountains, you can’t tunnel through? God specialises in things thought impossible And he can do what no other power can do! — Oscar C. Eliason
Father God, help me to see what seems impossible to my human eyes in a new light today. I give you my mountain, my uncrossable river, my loved one who turns away from Jesus again and again, knowing that you do the impossible every day because that is who you are!
Allow God to carry you. Rest in him, trusting him to work in ways that surprise you!
By Karen Woodard
Used by Permission
FURTHER READING
• Lost Without You
• When I say… “I am a Christian” – by Carol Wimmer