God can
The Second Sunday of Easter
Understand this: I am the One and only. There is no other god. I can take life -- and give it. Likewise, I can hurt you -- and heal you. And if I turn against you, no one can protect you from me. ~ Deuteronomy 32:39 (ABP)
Jesus said: ‘In fact, it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into God’s kingdom.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly surprised and asked, “How can anyone ever be saved?”
Jesus looked straight at them and said, “There are some things that people cannot do, but God can do anything.” ~ Matthew 19:24-26 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
God can do anything.
PRAYER:
God, you are all powerful. We see that in the resurrection. You are unstoppable! Yet, in spite of this reality, I am amazingly passive. Save me from my immature faith and my tendency to follow bunny trails which keep me from full participation in your emerging Kingdom. I am going to follow only you -- and you alone. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
