Are You Prepared for A Demonstration of God’s Power in Your Life?
Good Morning Friends,
We as Christians need to rely more upon the power of the Holy Spirit than on our own wisdom so we might more fully grasp the deep peace of God. We need to rely more on the Holy Spirit than on events like the Final Four…Final Two… of College Basketball to fuel the actions of our emotions. The main event is the power, wisdom and glory of the cross, that in and through that event we have been given the mind of Christ so we might experience a God that transforms. So this morning we meditate on the presence of the Holy Spirit in that moment when Thomas believed. Are You Prepared for A Demonstration of God’s Power in Your Life?
Scripture: When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NSRV)
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were again in the house and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
John 20:24-29 (NRSV)
‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled underfoot. ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5: 13-16 (NRSV)
Message: God’s power is unlimited and it has a way of working in and through us no matter how stressed the events in our lives make us feel. No, this does not mean we are guaranteed to always be right even if we think we are praying. It does not mean that we can ignore scripture. It does not mean that in pride we will not make a mess of things. However, it does mean that we can have the power of Christ working in and through us to bring peace and light to our lives and the lives of others. And in that peace we can better discern the thoughts of our minds and the intentions of hearts that might glorify God. Friends, we have been given the power of Christ and it is more abundant than we can imagine. For in Christ we have the power of prayer in the very personal and sometimes painful presence of God. We have the power of having been forgiven. We have the power of the Holy Spirit. We have the power of the resurrection. We have the authenticity of a power that draws us into a relationship with God so we might be victorious with Christ…so we might choose to actively seek His guidance in our lives. Maybe we have institutionalized this message so much that we have lost the method. Friends, unless we replicate Jesus in our lives…unless we employ a love that multiplies those who are called to be Christians, we miss the mark. The power in becoming doers of the Word of God is in the surrender, fellowship, honesty, and grace of the Holy Spirit. Here when we take personal responsibility for character development in ourselves and others we receive the assets necessary to live life abundantly. Here God is faithful to His promises. Here we learn how to receive. Here we grow in Christ-like love and faith. Powerless…we are to give away in love what has been given to us. That is the way we are transformed on the journey even if we do not fully see.
Pray we have confidence in God and the blessing of having found Christ in our lives. Pray we are bold in our witness. Pray with thanksgiving that we each experience the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit. Pray we not miss out on anything that God wants us to experience. Pray we see the clear evidence of the Holy Spirit in our expression of ministry. Pray we learn to seek the wisdom in following the promptings of the Spirit. Pray we live in the truth, not going our own way but in experiencing the mind of Christ through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Pray that God forgive us of our unbelief. Pray that we bear witness to the miracle of love that He performs daily in our lives. Pray we have faith and reason. Pray we love God with all our hearts, minds and souls as a community of love. Pray we have the blessings of belief shared. Pray we be as salt and light for each other.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 