December 21, 2006

Nothing is too hard for God

In the trauma of the past few days, God keeps reminding me of His power and His faithfulness. We have prayed for years for our family—we cannot think that He is uninvolved in their lives. He knows what is happening. He has sovereign power over what they do, even the choices they make. He can start them or stop them, move them or hold them still. They may not realize it, but nothing is too hard for the Lord.

This morning He gives me more reassurance. The reading is in Hebrews 8. It says, "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."

God saves who He saves, Jew or Gentile. I’ve a nephew who is about 40 years old. God touched his life a few weeks ago, putting His laws into his heart. This nephew is now a child of God, forgiven and growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. How that happens is a mystery, but the fact is—it did happen.

Nothing is too hard for the Lord. He can turn the hearts of the fathers to their children. We saw that happen yesterday. He can bring light to dark minds. That has happened too. He can also cause rivaling family members to forget their differences and rally together. We see that in some who have not been getting along, but now realize they must because this grandchild/ child/ step-child needs their support not their foolishness.

The miracle I’m looking for is in the verses from Hebrews. I want Him to "put His laws in her mind and write them on her heart." I want her to be "His people" because I know when that happens, His mercy and grace will give her peace and joy, and transform her life.

In the meantime, knowing that God can do it, has done it in the past, and is the same God today as He always has been, gives me what I need to be hopeful and to continue trusting Him.

1 comment:

Violet N. said...

Thanks for the reminder of that great verse, Elsie. We will hang onto it for your granddaughter - and for our own prodigals.

I hope your Christmas is grace-filled and good - despite the excitement of the last few days.