Don't Put God in a Box

Have you ever tried to assemble furniture without instructions, only to find extra screws and a wobbly table? It is frustrating to realize you were moving in the wrong direction simply because you lacked the right information. We often do the same in our spiritual lives, attempting to navigate life's deepest questions using only finite logic or past experiences.

Jesus encountered religious leaders who thought they had a foolproof logical argument against the resurrection. In Matthew 22:29, which says, "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.," He identified the root of their confusion. They viewed the afterlife through the lens of their own limited understanding instead of trusting what God had actually revealed. They knew the facts of their religion, but they did not truly know the heart of the Author.

The word Jesus used for "err" is planáō, which means to wander off the path or be misled. It is the picture of a traveler who has lost their way. We wander when we ignore the graphḗ, or the sacred writings, which serve as our map. But Jesus also points out that we must know the power of God. It is one thing to know what the Bible says; it is another to believe that the God who wrote it is still powerful enough to do the impossible. As Ephesians 3:20 reminds us, God is able to do far more than we could ever ask or imagine.

Application

Identify one area where you feel stuck or hopeless today. Instead of worrying, find a specific promise in the Bible that applies to your situation. Read it, then pray: "Lord, I believe Your Word, and I trust that Your power is greater than this problem." Stop trying to figure out how God will do it and start trusting that He can do it.

Prayer

Lord, forgive us for limiting You by our own small thinking. Help us to hide Your Word in our hearts and to live with an expectant faith in Your great power today. Amen.