Strange Comfort

SCRIPTURE: Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27 NIV

THOUGHT: Technically, Jesus is talking to his disciples about how hard it is for a rich person to experience salvation, but I thought of it this morning because sometimes life just seems impossible. Maybe the context of Jesus’ promise should do two things for us: 1) help us understand how impossible it seems to those with worldly wealth to count it all as loss, and 2) take strange comfort from the notion that all our seemingly impossible situations (which might have been used by Jesus as examples, but weren’t) are chump change compared to letting go of money. It’s only money, as one of my friends has said. And it only hurts for a minute, another (very wealthy one) said. Jesus didn’t say this about a withered hand, blind eyes, deep sin, lack of food, demon possession, horrible storms, or even death. He said it about money.

By God’s grace money is not my master, so God has already set about turning impossible into possible. I have come through the eye of a needle, and could tell you the stories of how that felt. Hard pressed on every side, but not crushed (2 Cor. 4:8). What a miracle. I’m on solid ground to think he’s at work in every seemingly impossible situation I bring to him.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

PRAYER: Oh God, it is perhaps strange comfort, but if you can deliver me from the love of money, you can do everything that seems so impossible. Help us take courage, let go of whatever worldly “stuff” we trust in to save us, and feel the joy of belonging to you and watching you work miracles in and around us.