At first glance, this passage of Scripture is a lovely collection of well known miracles Jesus performed during his ministry. It’s tempting to read through them quickly, make note of how great God is, and then move on. However, if an extra moment is taken, one’s heart easily will be shaken. Stay with me for a minute…every single one of these situations showcases a problem that would easily be seen as impossible to change. A dead child, a chronically ill woman, two blind men, and a demon-oppressed and mute man were all directly impacted by the power of Jesus. The road to Jesus wasn’t necessarily easy for these people. They sought Him out repeatedly, called above crowds, begged for mercy, and even grabbed at the hem of His robe as He walked past. They knew His power, and they possessed the endurance to seek Him in the midst of chaos and calamity.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
I can’t help but think about our current circumstances. We are now almost an entire year into dealing with a pandemic none of us saw coming. Everything seemed to change in an instant and everyone has dealt with it differently. In some people, we see the physical impact and the rising levels of anxiety. Others are dealing with emotional pressures more quietly, and only the people closest to them realize they are even struggling. Everyone has been impacted by a seemingly impossible situation and faced with choices we never thought we’d have to make. It would be incredibly easy to throw up our hands in frustration, to quit loving our neighbors, to say it’s too hard. Everyone is divided so what’s the use anyway? But hold fast, brothers and sisters. The God we serve is greater! He works in the good times and the bad. Jesus is worth seeking even when the road is long, the path is hard, and the people are divided. Remember, those people who were suffering in impossible situations continued to seek Jesus with all they had. As a result, God was glorified.
As the body of Christ we are called to higher purpose. A purpose not of personal gratification or selfish ambition, but rather a purpose of seeking after our Savior with all we have. A purpose of seeking to glorify God in the midst of hardship. A purpose of loving our neighbors and making disciples. My prayer is that in the future we as a body of believers will be able to look back on the time of the pandemic seeing all that God accomplished and how we sought after Him in the midst of an impossible circumstance. I know we are all exhausted in every way possible, but let’s remember that our God is good and His plan is always good. So go, seek Jesus, and love your neighbors well.
VC Devotionals 