God is Able 
Ponder: What can God do?
Scripture: “And do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones” (Matthew 3:9; Luke 3:8 NKJV)
What can God do? A child will tell you that God can do anything. And that child is right! God can do anything that is in keeping with His nature. The $64 theological term for that is omnipotence (omni = all; potence = power). Sometimes our English translations use the term “almighty” to express that concept. Knowing that God is all-powerful is fine. But sometimes it’s helpful to be more exact. What is something specific that God can do?
When the Pharisees & Sadducees came out to see John the Immerser as he ministered, John rebuked their pride and skepticism. Among other things, he said to them, “and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones” (Matthew 3:9; Luke 3:8).
We should not misunderstand – it was good to be happy about being a descendant of Abraham, the great man of faith and friend of God. But it would have been better to actually behave like Abraham! Just having some of his DNA in their genetic code didn’t make them anything extraordinary. God could have turned rocks into people with DNA like Abraham’s. After all, God took dust and made Adam; and He took a rib from Adam and made Eve. Making children of Abraham from rocks would have been no challenge at all. God is able!
But why should we care? Most of us have little if any genetic relationship to Abraham, and none of us could prove it if we did. Nor does that make any difference. Here’s the thing: Not only can God change a rock into a physical child of Abraham – He can change a sinner into a spiritual child of Abraham. Paul wrote, “If you are Christ’s” (i.e. if you belong to Christ), “then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). God will change you when you trust and obey, being “baptized into Christ” (Galatians 3:27). Why are you waiting?
Song: “Our God Is Able To Deliver Thee”
Prayer: Gracious Heavenly Father, we marvel at Your infinite power. May we ever remember that You are able! We thank You for using Your power to transform lowly sinners into faithful servants. We pray in the name of Him Who died for us, Amen.
Joe Slater (Justin, TX)
jaslater1954@gmail.com