Possibilities

“What do you  mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” Mark 9:23

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.  Mark 11:22-25

“If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”

The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.”

The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it would obey you! Luke 17:3-6

“What is impossible for people is possible with God.”  Luke 19:27

“This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”  John 6:29

The possibilities are endless if you are willing to believe that God sent his only son to earth to die on a cross in order to purchase all of our salvation with his own blood.  This one man was sent to offer himself up as a sacrifice so holy that all who believed in Him could be forgiven of their sins and could also be seen as holy before God.  He had to die for us to live.  If you believe that Jesus was sent to earth from God and died to save you and I from our sins, then you can receive the gift of eternal life that God so dearly wants his children to accept.  God is a gentleman, he won’t force himself upon you.  You have to ask for his presence and his gifts, then he will bestow them upon you.  And with the faith that comes from believing in him and his son, then you can ask for anything in Jesus’ name and as Mark 11 says, “If you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.”

What does your house look like?

In the childhood story of the Three Little Pigs, the little pigs learn a lesson about building materials.  Each of the pigs had built their house out of different building materials. The first little pig built his house out of straw. The second little pig built his house out of sticks. He third little pig built his house out of bricks.  Now I’m sure each of those little pigs in the story spent a lot of time building their houses and were proud of their accomplishment.  But, one day the big bad wolf came along and he put each of these little pigs’ houses to the test.  As the story goes, he stood outside of each house in turn and blew as hard as he could to get to the little pig inside.  Unfortunately for the  little pigs with straw and stick houses, he blew right through the house and he killed and ate them.  The little pig with the house of bricks could not be reached by the wolf and so he was the only little pig to survive the attacks from the big bad wolf.

Does this story remind you of anything?  Well, it instantly brings to my mind Jesus’ teaching about building on solid foundation.

Building on a Solid Foundation
“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” Luke 7:46-49

So do you see the similarity here? The big bad wolf is like the storm that comes and tests the foundation your house is built on.  The big bad wolf is the devil.  He brings trouble into our lives to see if he can knock us down.  But, if you build your house on a solid foundation of God’s word and follow His teachings, then you will withstand even the greatest of storms.  So which little piggy do you want to be, one that gets eaten or the one that survives?

Parable of the Lamp

The Word tells us that Jesus is the light of this world (John 8:12).

There are many references to light in the bible.  God uses light as a way to explain his ideas to us, such as in the parable of the lamp which was spoken by Jesus.

“No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.
“So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” Luke 8:16-18

Jesus is the light of the world, his light shines for all to see. His light shines as a beacon for all who are willing to come and receive salvation.  Everything will be brought into the light where nothing can be hidden.  So what is the significance of Jesus saying to “pay attention to how you hear”?  He explained it for us.

The True Family of Jesus
Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get to him because of the crowd. Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to see you.”
Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.” Luke 8:19-21

All who listen to Jesus’ teachings and follow them become a part of the family of the God, a part of the body of Christ.

Stepping into the light takes you into the loving arms of God.

The Prodigal Child

“A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’

“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’

“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’

“His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”  Luke 15:11-32
I love this story!

An acquaintance’s 16 year old daughter recently ran away, and when she returned home he was so happy and relieved.  This story really spoke to him.

Does it speak to you?

Jessica