“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:18-20).
We had two days without electrical power and the second day I started my generator (with a neighbor’s help) in order to keep the fridge and freezer at appropriate temps. My sister-in-law provided a hot meal each day with her wood stove cooking. I have a gas fireplace-no cooking there. The power came back on Saturday evening as my dad and I were leaving my sister-in-law’s house. He was overjoyed, to say the least! When I drove up to my house it was still dark! I was disappointed but knew that sometimes my power isn’t on at the same time as theirs. So Molly and I settled in for another chilly night. Waking up at 6:00 a.m. I suddenly realized that when I shut down the generator the evening before I’d forgotten to go back to the basement and turn the main breaker back on. How stupid and forgetful can one person be?! I could have had a warm house all night if I’d remembered to turn on the breaker! The power was available but I wasn’t making use of it. How foolish!
I know, without a doubt, my spiritual life is a bit like that. I don’t utilize the power available to me. The Apostle Paul calls it God’s “incomparable great power for us who believe.” He says that power is like the power that raised Jesus from the dead. That’s powerful power! My faith is often weak and I don’t trust God to work in my life. I push ahead trying to solve it all on my own. I think I’m getting better at allowing the Holy Spirit to lead, but still have a long way to go.
Jesus has promised victory over sin and death. He has the power to forgive sins and raise the dead. I can trust him to work in my life. “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4b). So when the world looks hopeless and dark and I wonder what’s next? I can have the assurance that God reigns and his power will overcome all the evil powers of the world—one day! Power is available. Am I using it?
You got it right again! Many thanks.
It so easy to think we are doing what God wants us to do when we really are following our own agenda. If we don’t utilize God’s “power” then it is that much easier for Satan to pull us away. Just knowing the right way is not comparable to actively doing it. Thanks for making me think about what I do and about what I should be doing. Using God’s power productively!
You are right, Caroline. I find it so easy to let “self” take over instead of submitting to God’s control and leading. Thanks for your comment.