Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” – Luke 18:27 (NIV)
And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. – Luke 18:27 (KJV)
Theme: Trusting God’s Plan
This is our last week on this theme. Review previous posts on this topic here: In Whom Do You Trust?, Straight Paths, Lift Your Eyes, My Help From the Lord, He Knows the Plans, His Thoughts, All Things for the Good, I Can Do All Things
Have you ever thought a situation was hopeless? When I look at some of the things happening in our world today I sometimes catch myself thinking that way. Whether it’s a friend or family member who’s lost in sin, health concerns, money problems, or our Nation’s growing acceptance of immoral values (and rejection of God’s laws), it’s easy to get discouraged and think that the situation is impossible. That’s why we need Luke 18:27 handy…
The context for this verse is interesting. Jesus was talking to a rich man who claimed to have followed all of God’s commandments, but who didn’t want to give up his wealth to follow Jesus. That’s when Jesus said,
“Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (v25)
His point wasn’t that being successful financially will bar you from Heaven. Rather, Jesus was making a broader statement––that no matter how hard we, as sinful humans, try to live according to God’s laws we will always fall short. Thus, it’s impossible for us, on our own, to live up to God’s standards. Jesus’s statement discouraged those around Him and they asked (I’m paraphrasing)…if someone as good and successful as this rich man can’t get into Heaven, then how can anybody be saved? Jesus answered with this week’s verse, saying “what is impossible with man is possible with God.” It’s not possible for us to save ourselves, but all things are possible with God––He can even rescue us from our sins.
Luke 18:27 is a great reminder that the same awesome and powerful God who put the very stars in the sky, who created the highest mountains and who filled the deepest oceans is always in control. Further, He loves us and He can do anything. A situation may seem hopeless to us, but nothing is impossible with our God.
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