God"s opinion

“With God all things are possible.”- Matthew 19:26

“Nothing is impossible with God.”- Luke 1:37

“Whether you think you can or think you can’t- you’re right.”- Henry Ford

In Chapter 10 (“Very Superstitious”) of The Grave Robber, Mark Batterson emphasizes that when the Bible says the same thing two ways, it’s doubly important.  Yet, we all too often make false assumptions about what is and isn’t possible.  Pastor Batterson states that embracing the word impossible is the primary reason we don’t experience the miraculous.

When we let logical assumptions trump our theological needs, before we realize it our reality becomes defined by our finite, human assumptions instead of divine revelation.  The invalid at the Bethesda pool was way past his prime, living on borrowed time.  In Jesus’ day, even if you lived past your second birthday, the average life expectancy was only forty.  This third miracle was a way to prove His power knows no logical or chronological limits.

As Mark points out, it’s not too late for us either:

“It’s never too late to be who you might have been.  If’ you’re breathing, it means God’s not finished with you yet.  You are never past your prime.  But if you want a second chance, you need to seek a second opinion- God’s opinion.”

Today’s question: How difficult has it been for you to eliminate the word impossible from your vocabulary?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “God is able”

 

God"s opinion

Prerequisite for a miracle

Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D. C.  His latest book, The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible, spotlights seven miracles of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John.  Each miracle unveils a different dimension of Jesus’ power.  Seven miracles are seven signs, each pointing straight to Jesus.

Pastor Batterson stresses that this book is more than a course in miracles.  The focus is on Jesus, the only One who can perform them.  At the outset, the author offers a word of caution:

“Don’t seek miracles.  Follow Jesus.  And if you follow Jesus long enough and far enough, you’ll eventually find yourself in the middle of some miracles.”

Everyone, Pastor Batterson observes, wants a miracle.  But there’s a catch- the prerequisite for a miracle is a problem.  Yet, problems present the perfect opportunity for God to reveal His glory.  God can make our impossible possible!

Mark  relates the story (Chapter 2) of world-class violinist Joshua Bell and his three-hundred-year-old Stradivarius worth $3.5 million.  Playing incognito outside one of the busiest stops on the Washington Metro line and filmed by a hidden camera, only seven out of over one thousand people who passed by stopped to listen.  Similarly, Mark states that miracles are happening around us every day, but we will miss them if we don’t know how to look for them.

Today’s question: What is your response to Pastor Batterson’s word of caution concerning seeking miracles?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: the latest addition to the Annotated Bibliography, “Waiting on God”

 

Prerequisite for a miracle