*Faith Rooted in God*

With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. - Matthew 19:26

*Today's Scripture*

Matthew 19:23-26

*23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”*

*Today's Devotion*

I was inspired while reading a historical fiction account of the life of Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of Bethune-Cookman University. The stories of her determination and care for others led me to read more about her. One account tells how in the early 1900s, she “described” the buildings at her school for young African American women to a wealthy businessman. But when he visited the “campus,” he found only one building. She’d described her dream to him, hoping that he would invest in the school. Her faith and vision worked together to secure funding. Her school eventually became—and still is—a four-year university.

Bethune is credited with saying: “Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible.” Her quote is similar to what Jesus told the astonished disciples who were asking questions about salvation. They were trying to figure out how people could “enter the kingdom of God,” or heaven (Matthew 19:24). They wanted to know “who then can be saved?” (v. 25). Jesus shared with His followers that faith in God was the only way, because “with God all things are possible” (v. 26).

Faith is rooted in a belief in God and His abilities. Faith prompts us to believe in the possibility of things we don’t see yet (see Hebrews 11:1)—like a dream of a school for the underprivileged or an eternal home for those who accept Christ. May God help us see what He sees.

*Reflect & Pray*

What are you struggling to believe? How can trusting in God’s power help you?

*Dear God of all, please increase my faith in Your ability to do the impossible.*

*Today's Insights*

The rich man was trusting in himself, his good works, and his wealth for eternal life rather than in God (Matthew 19:16-22). To highlight the impossibility that he could enter heaven based on his own merits, Jesus said it would be easier for a large camel to go through the small eye of a needle than for a rich man to save himself (v. 23). The Jewish belief at that time was that God bestowed wealth on the deserving. If a moral and rich person who had God’s favor couldn’t make it into heaven, then seemingly no one could (v. 25). Christ says it’s impossible for humans to save themselves but “with God all things are possible” (v. 26). God did the impossible and the unthinkable when “he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him” would “have eternal life” (John 3:16). As believers in Jesus, we can trust God—who can do the impossible—to help us.

“For nothing is impossible with God."

Luke 1:37

Every great miracle in the Bible began with an impossibility. All of us, at various times in our lives, face situations that are beyond us. We can't solve them on our own. We can't overcome them in our own strength. What impossible situation are you facing today? A sickness that is incurable? A family crisis where one of your children is running away from God? Debt that is so overwhelming, you don't know where to turn to next?

A.W. Tozer said, "Anything God has ever done, He can do now. Anything God has ever done anywhere, He can do here. Anything God has ever done for anyone, Jesus can do for you.” 

Hold on. Pray. Pray with faith. Pray with the expectation that God can make the impossible possible.

You survived exam period, kept going even when it felt hopeless. And now you're back, doing amazing Gallifreyan! The best I've ever seen! And that, Gabriel, is really saying something. So, from the bottom of my hearts: I congratulate you. And tell you this: Never give up. Never back down. You are fantastic.

With admiration and pride — the Doctor.

Honoured o7

I do have to say at some point, at the very beginning, I literally adopted a mindset that I ended up on another planet, stranded without my TARDIS, so I might as well get to know the planet and the people. It actually helped a lot. You helped a lot.

Never give up

Never back down

You are fantastic