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Greetings and blessings for a wonderful Holiday season,
As we wait in patience and anxiousness for the Christ Child, let’s remember to reflect on the waiting of God’s people who had first been promised a redeemer in the pages of Genesis. Thousands of years had passed and there had been great suffering, wars, flooding, destruction and even the reality of God’s people in the land being taken captive. Man found himself so anxious and lost that he had almost lost sight of God’s promises. Don’t we find ourselves in the same kind of waiting and longing with suffering around the world and us, as we wait for Christ’s second coming. On that first Christmas, when all appeared very bleak, God made the impossible not only possible, but brought it to pass.
So, this month I’m moved to share with you the words of Matthew 19:26, “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Jesus’ statement in Matthew 19:26 is often taken out of context. Many people have taken this verse to mean that they can do anything they want in life because God can do the impossible. Sadly, often this can lead to selfish prayers and a small view of God.
In order to understand what Jesus is saying, we should read the preceding verses. In Matthew 19:16-22, a young man comes to Jesus asking for eternal life. Jesus tells him that he must give up all of his earthly possessions—something the young man is not willing to do. Because he failed the test, the young man failed to inherit eternal life.
Jesus says in Matthew 19:23, it is very difficult for a rich man to enter heaven. The point is that loving Jesus requires everything we are. Our ultimate love cannot be split between Jesus and something else. The disciples then ask, “Who can be saved?” Jesus responds in Matthew 19:26, it is impossible for man to save himself—but it is possible with God. God can do the very thing that man cannot.
We cannot earn our salvation. We cannot work hard enough to attain it, and we can’t achieve it on our own. It is impossible. But with God all things are made possible for us to be saved. It is only through the work and power of Jesus that we have access to salvation. And through the empowerment of the Spirit, we are enabled to have faith in God.
What in your life is keeping you from faith in Jesus? Maybe it’s a relationship. Maybe it’s material possessions. Maybe it’s the wrong mindset. Whatever it might be—God has the power to remove these things from your heart so that you can have faith in Jesus.
So, spend some time with God today and everyday. Ask Him to search your heart. Ask Him to reveal anything within you that is keeping you from loving Jesus. Then, do something daring—surrender those things to Him.
Why not start off the celebration of Christ’s birth with a complete surrender of your heart?
Wishing you a blessed Christmas,
Pastor Kathi Kraus