All Things Are Possible With God

Mark 10:27

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

Today – Annual Conference begins for the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church. Much will be discussed and much will be decided (unless the Bishop is asked to create a commission to study something).

Like with General Conference in May – everyone doesn’t agree on the important issues or even which issues are the important ones. Local churches send their pastors and lay delegates and other agencies of the church are also represented. Typically – by design – there will be an equal or nearly equal number of clergy and laypersons voting on the issues.

Like with General Conference – there are those who believe the sky is falling and there are those with their heads stuck in the ground (so to speak). Some see the church falling a part and some see the church on the rise. Some wish for a liberalization of the Book of Discipline and some want to hold to what is written (at Annual Conference we cannot change the discipline – that can only happen at General Conference – when it is allowed).

Maybe these are examples of how some of our local churches operate. Given a typical Administrative meeting at any local church – I would imagine that some do not agree on the issues. Some are full of doom and gloom and some are overly positive. At times – we might even float between gloom and joy at times.

Bottom line – some things are thought impossible from our human point of view. At times we believe the two sides on an issue will never find a workable compromise. At times we think the church will die if we compromise too much or not enough.

In today’s passage – we hear a truth – that for us some things are impossible – but for God – all things are possible. Here is today’s passage in partial context. Mark 10:17–31 – ¹⁷ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” ²⁰ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” ²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. ²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” ²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” ²⁸ Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” ²⁹ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel ³⁰ will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

As long as we try to find the answers at Annual Conference on our own and in our own thinking – it will seem impossible. When we yield our desires – feelings – tendencies – and beliefs – and seek after God’s answer – it is at this time that we will find God’s truth. We must love God more than anything – more than our families – our personal desires (even if they seem natural to us) – even our belief systems. We must seek after God – because all things are possible with God.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.