| Matthew 19:26 – “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” |
How do you measure the progress of your spiritual journey?
Perhaps you yearn for a tangible metric, like counting the minutes spent in prayer or the number of passages read. The disciples themselves often believed they were growing under the guidance of Jesus, only to be reminded by him, “Oh, you of little faith.”
This struggle was also faced by James Fraser.
In 1908, he set his sights on becoming a missionary in China. He dedicated himself to mastering the language and understanding the culture, which were far more challenging back then. He embarked on his evangelizing mission in the captivating land of Lisuland, nestled in the shadow of the mighty Himalayas. To reach the villages, he had to traverse treacherous terrain.
However, during the winter months, his path was obstructed by snow. Frustration consumed him, and at times he even questioned God’s cooperation in his grand endeavor. He worried for the new Christians, who stood alone in their faith. Fear gripped him.
When spring finally arrived and the snow melted, he resumed his journey to the highlands. What he discovered left him astounded. The Lisu people had diligently immersed themselves in reading the Bible and fervent prayer, and their spiritual growth far surpassed that of the disciples in the lowlands, with whom he had regular contact.
This revelation struck him deeply: If I were to think like an ordinary person, I would be anxious about the spiritual well-being of my Lisu converts – fearful that they might regress into worshiping demons. However, God has granted me the ability to cast all my worries upon Him. I am free from anxiety and unease. If I had clung to my concerns instead of surrendering them to Him, I would never have persevered in this work for so long – perhaps I would have never even begun. But since it was initiated in Him, it must be continued in Him.
Ultimately, the question of life boils down to the level of trust we place in God.
In Matthew 19, Jesus observed a young man walking away because the barriers that held him were too formidable for him to relinquish. He was wealthy. Jesus conveyed to his disciples that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom. The enormity of this statement struck them deeply. “Then who can be saved?” For them, if even the elite of society encountered difficulties, how could they, humble peasants with nothing, stand a chance? Yet Jesus spoke the truth to them– “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'” (Matthew 19:26)
When faced with perplexing circumstances or insurmountable challenges, we often find ourselves asking, “Is this beyond God’s capabilities?” If the answer is no, then we must allow God to intervene…and trust in Him wholeheartedly.
Robert G. Taylor
robertgtaylor.com
