“Power is not the problem, sin is.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – January 30, 2021
Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God! Psalm 68:35 (NRSV)
Powerlessness is a dominant and reoccurring theme in our present age. For some, it may be a lack of power to enact the change they long to see in politics, a marriage, or a child’s health. At times over the past year, our country and world have seemed powerless against the raging threat of a global pandemic. For others, this lack of power may be far more personal, such as a lack of power to resist temptation and fight against longstanding habits of self-destructive behavior.
Because power can be abused, we often discount the necessity of power to live the lives we are called to live. Power is not the problem, sin is. In fact, in the Scriptures, power is a gift given by God to his people. It is the ability to live the life we are called to live.
To follow Jesus is a daily invitation to die to yourself, to take up your cross and follow as he leads (Matthew 16:24). Left to ourselves, we will turn away from this difficult path. It is simply too hard to grit it out in our own strength, and is far easier to remain comfortable and complacent in our sins.
The good news of the gospel is that God not only sees us in our place of need, but comes to us and shows us a way forward. He invites us to leave behind the pig trough and feast at the table as his royal children.
Do not discount your need for power. While it is good to be wary of unrighteous power that seeks to dominate and exploit others, the power from God enables us to run the race with endurance (Hebrews 12:1). Receive his power as a gift, and walk courageously in the strength of his presence.
Prayer
Father, thank you for the gift of power that frees us from our helplessness and fear, we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
Take time to reflect on where you feel most powerless in your life, and invite the Lord to meet you in that place and fill you with his strength.
Related Reading
Deuteronomy 10:21; Psalm 29:11; Isaiah 40:29
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