With God

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

There are many commands in the Bible that seem difficult to follow.

• A friend loves at ALL times (Prov 17:17)

• Pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17)

• Be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16)

• Live in unity (Eph 4:3)

• Be completely humble and gentle, be patient (Eph 4:2)

• Value others over yourself (Phil 2:3)

God knows that it is difficult for humans to follow in His perfect righteousness. His ways are higher than ours. That is why He sent the Holy Spirit to live in us and to pray for us. We don’t have to do it on our own. God is a loving Father who provides for His children.

Satan tries to convince us that we don’t need to study the Bible or grow closer to God because it is too hard. Satan knows God and knows the Bible, but he doesn’t want us to truly know God. He tries to keep us distracted or overwhelmed. "Did God really say?" is a constant phrase of Satan. He wants us to think we have to do it on our own, and that we should get all the glory. Satan tries the same lies over and over.

Asaph said in Psalm 73 “I envied the arrogant.” He believed Satan’s lie that the wicked live a better life while his life didn’t seem very good. But God showed him the wicked’s final destiny, and he realized that life with God is much better than with the wicked.

In Genesis 18:14, the angel asked Abraham, "Is anything too hard for God?" after Sarah laughed about having a child in her old age. Sarah knew she couldn't do it on her own, but the angel knew that God would do it through Abraham and Sarah.

Jeremiah prayed, "Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." Jeremiah 32:17

All things are possible with God. He created all things. He parted the sea. He defeated armies. He keeps all of His promises. He sent His son to reconcile us back to Him. He protects us every day. It isn't always the way we think it should be, but He truly knows best.

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13: 20-21

God equips you with everything good to do His will. We are not called to do it on our own. He is always with us, and the glory goes to Him. The world tells us that it is all about us and that we should get the attention and the glory. We are not created to carry the glory due to God. Yes, we are created in God’s image, but we are not God. God will do the hard work in and through us if we will surrender to Him.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:16-19