1106AFC021111
Matthew 19:26 http://bible.cc/matthew/19-26.htm
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “For humans this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
The passage comes at the end of a lesson on wealth. It is the passage in which Jesus said it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for the rich to get into heaven. His people at that time believed that accumulation of wealth and other material goods was proof of God’s approval. Those who hear this story (see Matthew 19:16-25) they were flabbergasted. How could Jesus say that giving everything away was right? Jesus stunned them further with his statement, “For humans this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
This statement applies when we need help. Sometimes we try so hard to do things on our own. We might even pray for help, and then when God offers it, we decline by stating – or acting as if – we don’t need THAT kind of help.
Here is a favorite story of mine. I hope you enjoy it.
All of Your Strength
====================
A man and his 10-year-old son were hiking the back trails.
The boy stopped to inspect a medium-sized boulder at the side of the trail.
“Dad, do you think I can move that rock?”
The man eyeballed the rock and said, “Yes son, if you use all your strength, you can move that rock.”
The boy braced against the rock and pushed and strained with all his might…the rock didn’t budge.
“Well Dad, you were wrong, I can’t move that rock.”
“No son, I wasn’t wrong, I said that if you used all your strength you could move that rock.
But you didn’t use all your strength
…because you didn’t ask me for help.”
~Author Unknown~
So, the lesson is that we can ask for help from others, especially from God. We need to ask “in faith, believing.” If you have not found a way to use all of the strength, or all of the wisdom, or all of the energy, or all of the courage, or all of the love, or all of the whatever-you-need, then perhaps you have declined the help of the One who is best able to help you. Even if you are absolutely certain you are doing everything right, but still need help, then perhaps you are missing out on using “all your strength.”
I’m working on keeping these shorter, so I will ask you to go back and look at previous prayer requests, go back and look at previous Bible studies, and go back and look at God’s answer when you said to Him, “Help me!” And while you are at it, up the ante a little by also praying, “O God! Help him, and her, and them, and those others too, and help …,”
PS: Sometimes we have the humbling privilege of being the hands, and feet, ears and eyes of Jesus on Earth as part of The Body of Christ. Sometimes being “an instrument of His peace, of His healing, of His loving and hands-on care is the answer to another person’s prayer. “Here I am Lord. Use me.”
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved!
Peace is with you when you are with Him for He IS our Peace.
1106AFC021111
Matthew 19:26 http://bible.cc/matthew/19-26.htm
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “For humans this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
The passage comes at the end of a lesson on wealth. It is the passage in which Jesus said it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for the rich to get into heaven. His people at that time believed that accumulation of wealth and other material goods was proof of God’s approval. Those who hear this story (see Matthew 19:16-25) they were flabbergasted. How could Jesus say that giving everything away was right? Jesus stunned them further with his statement, “For humans this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
This statement applies when we need help. Sometimes we try so hard to do things on our own. We might even pray for help, and then when God offers it, we decline by stating – or acting as if – we don’t need THAT kind of help.
Here is a favorite story of mine. I hope you enjoy it.
All of Your Strength
====================
A man and his 10-year-old son were hiking the back trails.
The boy stopped to inspect a medium-sized boulder at the side of the trail.
“Dad, do you think I can move that rock?”
The man eyeballed the rock and said, “Yes son, if you use all your strength, you can move that rock.”
The boy braced against the rock and pushed and strained with all his might…the rock didn’t budge.
“Well Dad, you were wrong, I can’t move that rock.”
“No son, I wasn’t wrong, I said that if you used all your strength you could move that rock.
But you didn’t use all your strength
…because you didn’t ask me for help.”
~Author Unknown~
So, the lesson is that we can ask for help from others, especially from God. We need to ask “in faith, believing.” If you have not found a way to use all of the strength, or all of the wisdom, or all of the energy, or all of the courage, or all of the love, or all of the whatever-you-need, then perhaps you have declined the help of the One who is best able to help you. Even if you are absolutely certain you are doing everything right, but still need help, then perhaps you are missing out on using “all your strength.”
I’m working on keeping these shorter, so I will ask you to go back and look at previous prayer requests, go back and look at previous Bible studies, and go back and look at God’s answer when you said to Him, “Help me!” And while you are at it, up the ante a little by also praying, “O God! Help him, and her, and them, and those others too, and help …,”
PS: Sometimes we have the humbling privilege of being the hands, and feet, ears and eyes of Jesus on Earth as part of The Body of Christ. Sometimes being “an instrument of His peace, of His healing, of His loving and hands-on care is the answer to another person’s prayer. “Here I am Lord. Use me.”
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved!
Peace is with you when you are with Him for He IS our Peace.
About Chick Todd
American Roman Catholic reared as a "Baptiterian" in Denver Colorado. Now living on Kauaʻi. USAF Vet. Married for over 50 years. Scripture study has been my passion ever since my first "Bible talk" at age 6 in VBS.
