But he [Jesus] said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” Luke 18:27We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 2 Cor. 1:8-10
Gracious Lord Jesus, you offered these words of hope to disciples trying to picture a camel squeezing through the eye of a needle. You speak the same words to us in light of many situations for which we need to accept our limitations and lay hold of your sufficiency. Nothing merely happens; but all things happen that we might not rely upon ourselves but upon you, the God who was raised for us, and the one who raises the dead. What a Savior! What a hope!
We enter (or end) this day remembering that your commitment is to make all things new, not to make all new things. There is an enormous difference between the two. Indeed, Jesus, you’ve placed us in a story of restoration, not replacement. You are actively at work in the broken places and broken stories, and among broken people, including ourselves. Through your resurrection, we’ve been given great assurance and hope for a redeemed universe. This is incredibly good news—the best news ever.
We are not God, you are. The pressure’s off of us to even attempt being co-redeemers. Forgive us when we assume that privilege. Redeem the messes we make when we try. Give us grace to accept the fact that many things are impossible for us. Our best intentions and efforts, strategies and resources are simply not enough. This is most evident in our relationships, and it requires a humility and faith the gospel alone can provide. Grant us both, Lord Jesus, grant us both.
We cannot change ourselves, so why do we assume the omnipotence to fix others? As much as we long to see friends freed from addictions, marriages brought back from the brink of death, harsh, controlling parents made gentle and kind; as much as we so want to see the depressed leap for joy, the fearful be set free, those with chronic pain given relief, those who don’t know you come to know you… Jesus, you alone have the power of resurrection.
Please show us the first nose hair of this camel poking through a needle’s eye. Give us grace to love others for your glory without putting any pressure on anyone to change. Hasten the day of perfect newness in our world and hearts. So very Amen we pray in your merciful and majestic name.
