God Honors Impossible Faith
Hiding behind one of the stone slabs by the Sea of Galilee, a condemned man listened as Jesus spoke. He longed to listen closer, but he was covered in leprosy and the crowd could easily stone him to death if they saw him in public.
He knew that if he could speak with Jesus, to touch this Man, this Healer, he would be whole. But his fear kept him hidden.
He also heard that Jesus never turned anyone away. He healed everyone who asked for it, no matter how sick they were.
He healed them ALL. ALL. That little word gave him the hope he needed. He could not see Jesus from his hiding place, but he could hear his message.Impossible Faith
Jesus said, “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you” Matthew 6:28-30.
His reservation started to melt away. Hope began to build in him.
He listened intently as the man said that Almighty God regarded the people as His children and wanted them healed and strong.
Is this possible? He had spent his life as an outcast – living in fear. But he could hear the compassion in Jesus’ voice.
He knew he had to come out of hiding regardless of his fears and go to meet Jesus.
As he stepped away from his safe place, he saw Him. Jesus was coming towards him. Jesus was aware of this man’s faith and his desire to be healed. He fell at Jesus’ feet and worshiped Him.
Through his tears, he said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
Without hesitation, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said with the same compassion and warmth the man had heard earlier in his voice.
“Be cleansed!” Matthew 8:2-3.
God Honors Two Things...
He felt Jesus’ touch and his body shuddered. It had been years since he felt the touch of another human being – let alone such a warm and loving touch.
He opened his eyes and saw Jesus smiling at him.
He gasped when he looked at his hands. They were clean! He looked at his fingers which had been merely stubs and were now fully formed. He looked at his body which had been covered with open ugly sores and saw smooth, unblemished skin on his arms, legs, and feet.
He was WHOLE.
The power of Jesus, in one instant, cleansed him. Overcome with gratitude, the man looked into the face of the One Who had made him whole. Jesus had given him new life.
“And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from him and healed them all” Luke 6:19.
God honors two things – your faith and His Word.
Reach Out To God
Reach out to Him – He wants to touch you.
Remember the story of Joshua?
“Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and He said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon. So the sun stood still and the moon stopped till the people had revenge upon their enemies, for the Lord fought for Israel” Joshua 10:12 – 14.
Joshua, Moses’ successor who let the children of Israel into the promised land, was someone who dared to ask big – to believe.
When Joshua was caught in the thick of battle with his enemies and the sun was about to set, he cried out for the sun and moon to stand still, and the Bible records that God answered his prayer.
In the plains where this battle took place, you can see the sun over Gibeon on one side and the moon over the Valley of Aijalon on the other side. Both the sun and the moon can be seen at the same time from this location.
Can you imagine Joshua raising his voice in the middle of the battle and pointing to the sun on one side to stand still and then giving the same command to the moon?
Joshua needed more daylight because the momentum of the battle was to their advantage, and he wanted to defeat their enemies and not give them time to regroup.
God honored Joshua’s request and his faith in a request that was scientifically inaccurate and impossible. He made it happen.
God loves it when we ask for big things – the impossible. He loves seeing our faith in the unimaginable.
He fights for you. He hears your prayers. He is the God of the impossible because of His love for you.
He merely asks you to trust Him, to believe Him, and to put your faith in His Word.