Thursday, May 1, 2025

            In Matthew 19:26, Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  Only twelve words long, but this message from Jesus is incredible in its context.  The problem is we can easily miss the context of what Jesus said.  We can often read this statement and turn it into a lottery ticket.  We can cling to it with the hope that God will favor us with some extraordinary gifts and blessings—usually of a material nature. We could even be tempted to draw some outrageous conclusions where we are almost challenging God to do something for us.  We might even reduce it to our personal lifeline in a dark and hopeless situation—even one of our own making.  These words from Jesus were never designed to be a card we can play in a tight or tense situation where we are looking for help or a way out of a predicament.
            The context for this statement is salvation.  Jesus spoke these words in response to a question that His disciples asked in Matthew 19:25—just one verse earlier.  The disciples had asked a remarkably good question, “Who then can be saved?”  We should pay attention to that kind of question.  It’s important—gravely important.  There is not a greater question to be asked or answered. So, Jesus tells us that God, and God alone, can save.  Only God can perform the amazing act of grace where a sinner is moved from death to life, from sinking to saved and from lost to found.  God’s grace can change anyone—even a terrorist like Paul or a murderer like Moses.
            We should celebrate the reality that God can and does save anyone.  No one deserves salvation.  Nobody has earned it.  Not a single person, in history or today, can lay claim to God owing them salvation.  Salvation is always bound up in grace.  God loves us before we love Him. God seeks us before we look to Him.  God saves us beyond anything we could ever find or do on our own.  So, with this bit of context, we can appreciate Jesus’ statement even more.  With man, salvation is impossible.  But with God, salvation is possible—even for us or people we might be tempted to label as hopelessly lost and unredeemable.  That’s worth celebrating!  If you are looking for a reason to praise God today, praise Him for your salvation (if you have come to Christ alone for salvation and forgiveness).  Praise Him because He is mighty and sufficient to save.  Praise Him because He has graciously chosen to save lost sinners who believe.
            With the Lord alone, our sins can be forgiven.  Our lives can be made whole.  Our sin debt has been paid, not in part, but in full.  Christ, the risen and glorious victor, has broken the chains of sin, Satan and slavery.  There is no other Name under heaven by which we may be saved.  But it is not impossible for God to save.  And praise be to God for His amazing gift.  He is Lord of the impossible and improbable.  Have a great Thursday!