FROM IMPOSSIBLE TO POSSIBLE
Jenna Worsham
Today’s Scripture: “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” 1 Peter 3:8, ESV
Theme: When broken people come together in unity led by Christ, the impossible becomes possible.
BROKEN
The community in Birmingham depicted in the movie Woodlawn was broken. There was more hate than love; even schools, sports, and transportation were being adversely affected. People allow so much injustice, and it’s easy to pretend that we are immune to that kind of brokenness. Yet, in every generation there is injustice, hatred, prejudice, poverty, oppression, and violence. Brokenness is not a problem from the past. It is present here and now, even if we look the other away.
THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS
... Jesus. In the movie Woodlawn, the coach was hesitant to trust the sports chaplain with his players. The coach wanted to channel their anger to win games. Jesus’ love, while nice, did not seem like any kind of solution to the huge disunity and unrest in all of Birmingham, not just at Woodlawn school. Yet, when Hank (the sports chaplain) spoke to the team, they converted, meaning they chose Jesus Christ as their Savior. They put their trust in Him, began to learn more about following Him, and in doing so, changed the way they related to one another. “How does a whole team convert? How is it that the only place in the whole city that blacks and whites get along is my football team?” (Coach Tandy, Woodlawn). That’s impossible. “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37, ESV). Led by faith in God and unity that no other team had, Woodlawn accomplished impossible goals.
Make It Personal: Maybe you’re also facing the impossible? Jesus offers us His love and unity in the body of Christ. Where do you turn when broken situations are overwhelming? Do you regularly commit to working together as part of the body of Christ? His promises for the Church aren’t just in history. We face brokenness in our politics, our communities, and our homes. This story is for us today, and Jesus really is the answer when we are all in – seeking, following, remaining in unity with our brothers and sisters, even though they are broken now and even if they have hurt us in the past. Let's follow Christ in unity and accomplish the impossible.
Pray: Lord, help me to live in unity with people within my church, community, and country, even when we have different cultures, skin colors, habits, or beliefs. Thank You for being the answer to all brokenness. Convert my own skepticism to faith, my fear to courage, my losses to learning, and my overconfidence to humility. Thank You for making these impossible things possible. I trust You to do greater things, ones that seem impossible now. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Read: Luke 1:36-38; 1 Peter 3:8-17
Weekly Memory Verse: “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:14, NLT