Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - June/78

Contributor - J. W. Vandenberg

Title - But God Can!

Topic - Meditation

"He who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to Him." John 8:29

Jesus' words, here, speak of a very close and intimate relationship that He has with the Father. The very purpose of Jesus' life and ministry, His death and resurrection, is that we may have an equally close relationship with the Father.

So, why don't we?

Sometimes we don't have such a wonderful and close relationship with the Father, because we are too self-centered and too self-sufficient. Or our "little" sins stand in the way. But how foolish! How utterly foolish, when we are being tricked away from God by any kind of disobedience! Is it worth it to suffer so much for such little sins or "pleasures?" And suffer we do, when we miss that close and caring relationship with the Father.

I came across the following little story: "A father and his son went mountain climbing. There were some steep and dangerous places on the path they chose. As they were climbing one of these treacherous places, someone called out to the little fellow: 'Do you have a good hold on your father, boy?' The little boy replied: 'No, but he has a good hold on me!"'

And does HE ever! And still we doubt! And yet we miss the mark! We may fail, but God will not! We may be unable, but God can!

Philippians 4:13 teaches us: "I have strength for anything through Him Who gives me power." (New English Bible)

Here we are, fathers and children with a special day for us in this month of June and, most important of all, a special time of celebration for having been the Church of Jesus Christ for three and a half centuries on this continent. A sense of awe and appreciation fills us as we think of it all. But there also is the recurring idea of our inability to serve as we know we ought. It is then that our Lord comes to remind us that our heavenly Father did not fling us into space somewhere to be left to ourselves. HE is with us and has not left us alone, and the key to knowing and experiencing this is in the last part of the same verse: " . . . for I always do what pleases Him!"

God's grace has provided forgiveness for our failures. So, common dads and children, remember how you cheered mom last month; now take some of that same medicine and apply it to yourself, for this great God of ours did not give us a spirit of defeat, but a spirit of power and conquest. HE says, if you cannot, I CAN!

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