Today’s Reading: Matthew 19:16-26
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26
Reflection: With God, all things are possible. This statement here is best understood around the interaction Jesus has with a rich young ruler, who asks what good he needs to do to have eternal life. The ruler says he has not murdered, been adulterous, or stolen. He has not lied and he has honored his father and mother. But in his encounter with Jesus, he discovers that he is still lacks what is needed to be granted eternal life. He is not able to do what Jesus asks of him.
His story is not unlike our own. We all fall short of God’s standard. Except for Jesus, every person who has walked the earth has fallen short of upholding all of God’s commands. Even in our best attempts, we fail. This presents a problem for us, which the disciples address: if we cannot meet God’s standard for eternal life, then how will we be saved? The rich young ruler, who has obeyed most of God’s Commandments still had not done enough. His inability to let go of his possessions showed that he was unable to forsake his earthly possessions for God.
To the disciples question of salvation, Jesus responds that what is impossible with men is possible with God. This is because His perfect work on the Cross has made eternity with God possible. While human imperfection and sin keeps us from entering the gates of Heaven, Jesus makes a way for us to be received into the Presence of our Heavenly Father. While we cannot earn our way into heaven, we are invited to depend on what Jesus has done and follow the way He has paved for us.
Salvation and eternal life cannot be earned, they can only be received. They exist for us because God freely gives these gifts through Jesus.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your amazing grace. Thank You for loving me even though I fall short of Your glory everyday. Thank You for Jesus, and the work that He has done to secure my salvation and eternity with You. I pray that the reminder of this great gift would resonate with me throughout today and onward and empower me to live for Your purpose. In Jesus’ Name I pray, AMEN.
Bible-in-a-Year Reading Plan (credit: Biblestudytools.com): Matthew 19:16-30; Numbers 11-12; Ecclesiastes 8
Get Social