The Impossible

Thursday, August 13, 2026

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, open my heart and mind, Holy Spirit. Fill my consciousness and complete Your joy in me as I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse: 1 John 1:8–9

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the 

truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all 

unrighteousness.

Verse of the day—1 Corinthians 6:19-20Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Today’s reading: Psalm 87-88 Romans 13 

The Impossible

We have all heard the term, ‘the elephant in the room’, right?

Today we hear Jesus talk about the ‘rule-pushers’(Pharisees).

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness” (Matt. 23:23).

“You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!” (Matt. 23:24)

So, what is the camel in the room? It is merciless injustice and faithlessness resulting from ‘rule following’.

“They are blind guides,” Jesus said, “and if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit” (Matt. 15:14)

Jesus is saying for us to get our eyes off the rules and onto the ‘Ruler’.

God’s foundation for any rules is mercy, justice and faithfulness. God’s foundation for all life is mercy, justice, and faithfulness.

Against God’s perfect righteousness, we deserve His full wrath(Ephesians 2), But the justice of God’s love calls for mercy-the mercy of making a way for us to be declared acceptable to God-a perfect way. Jesus is our perfect way(John 14)-His blood removes our guilt. God is perfectly faithful to His word.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

If we are faithful in trusting God in Christ always and confessing our sins when we sin, He is just and always does what He says he will do-He keeps us righteous-clean and free in Christ.

In our daily growing love for Him, the fruit of the Spirit in our lives results in the life He wants for us-a life that lives by His laws naturally. This is the yoke that is easy and the burden that is light(Matt. 11:28–30).

There is always a camel to be swallowed or an impossible task if we follow a list of rules collected by man attempting to make ourselves acceptable to God.

We are faithful to Christ in our loving obedience to His heart.

Where are you? Confess and forget it. There is no good for God’s kingdom in worrying over sin. There is glory to God in living in His victory.

...because He loves us, He will do it…

Father in Heaven,

I want to praise You with my whole heart and honor Your name forever. Your kingdom come and Your will be done. Give me what You know I need for today. Forgive me my hard attitudes for rules. Lead me away from evil.

Merciful, just, and faithful God,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen