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Jesus looked at them and said, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26, EHV

After Jesus' encounter with the rich young man and His use of the image of the camel and the eye of the needle, many of the disciples were despondent. These words of Jesus point out that salvation is God’s action, not something we can do on our own or even alongside God. Salvation is a pure gift. Our Lord gives us this gift as we enter into the promise through the waters of Baptism. In belief, we are given freedom and confidence to better care for our neighbors and our Lord’s creation. In faith, our hearts are called to action to shine out the glory of Jesus Christ to a fallen creation and point to all who will listen the way to eternal life. Our actions add nothing to our salvation, but may benefit those who are resistant to God’s call on their lives. The choosing is not ours, but God’s our only action is to submit and humble ourselves to God and His promises. We can reject the promise through our rebellion, but once our hearts are truly captured by God, our lives are not our own. It is in this reality that our hope arises, and our Lord’s peace abounds in our lives.

Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.