Miami, FL 2009: The Southern tip of Florida sits precariously inside Hurricane Alley. And yet, the people insist on building an impressive skyline of structures. The challenge is to construct buildings that can withstand the winds. Tricky and difficult, Miami makes it happen. For spiritual lives wishing to withstand opposing winds, God must make the impossible, possible.
From Trent Ling:
My expectations do not count at all. The only relevant inquiry centers upon God’s expectations, which matter fully and completely, forever. So the question becomes, “Does God expect the impossible?”
Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (John 6:44), and then reiterated, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him” (John 6:65).
For lives to be considered “in Christ,” they must surely contain the signatures and markings of God and Christ. At a minimum, the drawing and enabling done by God to empower people to follow Christ must be present and evident. This cannot be forged, faked, or fronted by man. This admittedly impossible standard for people’s lives can only be met as a result of God’s unmistakable favor and empowerment.
Conversely, in the Scriptures, lives conducted and based upon human effort are debunked as insufficient and foolish. Galatians 3:1-3. Those claiming to have Christ while achieving merely human plateaus remain demonstrably off the Scriptural pace. Jesus and his true disciples love such people enough to point out that such disconnection and hypocrisy show lagging power and deliverance, therefore proving that God has neither drawn nor enabled. Humble responses are marked by thankfulness and eager diligence to get it right; prideful responses are marked by offense and departure.
God expects the impossible. He can deliver it, and can thereby show himself in the lives of the earnest. His disciple ministers expect the same. And they will live miraculously while eagerly sharing and offering it to all.
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You find out that a tree can talk once you judge it by it’s fruit! God provides me with so much comfort and calm because I don’t have to run in circles trying to see if proclaimed Christians are genuine or not in their devotion to Christ. Not whether or not they’ve reached perfection (Matthew 5:48), but just if they’re serious. God makes it so clear to see in others and in myself. How God put together a timeless collection of writings that only get deeper, I will never understand unless He tells me. But, then again, God has no beginning so I guess I’ll have to keep a log of questions that I’d like to have answered.
God is so great! This is a wonderful teaching. I have forever been marked by the inability to show power and deliverance! Thank you Father for showing me this! I think of David being a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22) and how God recognized Hezekiah’s prayer and tears! (2Kings 20:5). Thank you Father for your heart and the amazing love you have! For us to do what you want and need only because you make it happen, is so you! It is why I must remain serious, in the game, and actively participative. Father, thank you that I can, and will, keep plowing ahead!