MARCH 26, 2025 ~ FROM A PASTOR'S HEART

MARCH 26 DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READING: COLOSSIANS 2:1-10

There is a cliché often attributed to the Bible...but it's not in the Scriptures...it goes like this, "God will never give you more than you can handle.” This sounds good, but it is not what the Bible teaches. The truth is that there are many things that could happen in our lives that we are not equipped to handle. That is why we need Jesus. The biblical truth is, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." As followers of Christ we are not immune from difficult and sometimes impossible situations. God has given us each other as a means of support, encouragement and strength. He uses us in each other's lives and works through us to minister when life gets hard. The Lord has also given us His Holy Spirit, who is always there strengthening, empowering, comforting, encouraging and loving us. We need to quit telling people that, "God will not give them more than they can handle"...and start being there in the Lord to help the helpless!

This cliché is really very humanistic, like, "God helps those who help themselves.” Neither one is in the Scripture and comes from the mind of humans who actually want to teach self sufficiency, rather than dependency upon God. We don't like to be dependent on anyone. We think it shows strength when we stand on our own. The truth is we were not created to be independent of God, but totally dependent upon Him. Jesus said, "I am the vine and you are the branches, apart for me you can do nothing.” We cannot even live the Christian life without Him. Far too many of us have been taught that Christianity is doing our best to live up to God's expectations. Sadly, many people spend their whole life attempting to do this and find that it is impossible. The Christian life is not we doing our best for God and hoping He is pleased. It is God doing His best through us, guaranteeing He accepts us in His Son Jesus. There are many things we are not equipped to do, not equipped to handle, not able to figure out, that is why we need Jesus.

Please share your thoughts.